ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Attorney-General which Ministers in the Law Officers' Departments have been issued with  (a) a BlackBerry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Edward Garnier: The Attorney-General and I have each been issued with a BlackBerry.

JUSTICE

Children

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many mothers were  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted for the offence of child abandonment in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold centrally, details of the relationship between an offender and the victim other than where the offence is specified separately in law. I can therefore provide details on the number of defendants who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for 'abandoning a child under two years', England and Wales 2004 to 2008 (latest available), which are shown in the table as follows.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned for publication in October 2010.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for abandoning a child under two years( 1) , England and Wales 2004 to 2008( 2,3,4,5) 
			  Sex  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Males  
			 Proceeded against 4 3 1 - - 
			 Found guilty - - - - 1 
			   
			  Females  
			 Proceeded against - 1 3 2 - 
			 Found guilty - - 2 1 - 
			   
			  Total  
			 Proceeded against 4 4 4 2 - 
			 Found guilty - - 2 1 1 
			 (1) Offence under the Offences against the Person Act 1961, sec27. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008. (5) The numbers found guilty may exceed those proceeded against as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year to the defendant being found guilty at the Crown Court in the following year, or the defendant was found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice

Departmental Mobile Phones

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 211W, on departmental mobile phones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier is of each BlackBerry device issued to Ministers in his Department.

Jonathan Djanogly: The BlackBerrys issued to Ministers in the Ministry of Justice each  (a) have a purchase cost of £50,  (b) are on a network provided by Vodafone,  (c) are on the Vodafone BlackBerry Voice and Data tariff, and  (d) are supplied by Vodafone.

Departmental Responsibilities

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has received recent representations from Crown Dependency  (a) governments and  (b) legislatures advocating a transfer of departmental responsibility for such dependencies from his Department to another Government department.

Jonathan Djanogly: To date I have not received any representations from the Crown Dependencies' Governments advocating a change in departmental responsibility.

Fines: Surcharges

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been raised by the £15 victim surcharge in each year since its inception.

Crispin Blunt: The victim surcharge was introduced on 1 April 2007. Between 2007-08 to 2009-10 the victim surcharge raised £21,079,310. It produced approximately £3.8 million in 2007-08, £8.1 million in 2008-09 and £9.2 million for 2009-10.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the Prison Service Order on gender dysphoria to be publicly available.

Crispin Blunt: At the end of March 2010 the NOMS Equalities Group submitted a draft of the Prison Service Instruction (PSI) on the care and management of transsexual prisoners for legal advice. The NOMS Equalities Group is currently working through the advice provided. A final draft will be ready for ministerial approval after the summer recess and will be made publicly available as soon as possible thereafter.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons ring-fencing of funding for independent third sector rape crisis organisations has been removed following the combination of separate funding streams from his Department and the Government Equalities Office for 2010-11.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has, for the last four years, allocated £1.25 million per annum to voluntary sector organisations supporting victims of sexual violence. This is funded through the Victim Surcharge, which is a £15 levy on all fines imposed by the courts following a criminal conviction. It is a condition of the Ministry of Justice's financial settlement that the income from the surcharge must be used to provide non-financial support to victims of crime and their families.
	For the current financial year only, the previous Secretary of State for Justice agreed with the then Minister for Women to combine this funding from the Ministry of Justice with £1 million from the Government Equalities Office, creating a single fund for organisations that support victims of sexual violence. All other arrangements for the funding, including any ring-fencing, remain unchanged. This one-off combined fund was created to provide a more joined-up approach to the sector, to simplify the application process for organisations bidding for money and to deliver better value for money overall.

Refugee Migrant Justice

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date he was first informed that Refugee Migrant Justice had been declared insolvent.

Jonathan Djanogly: Paul Gray chair of the board of trustees of RMJ wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Clarke) on 14 June to inform him that having taken professional advice he had convened a special meeting of the board on 15 June. He informed my right hon. and learned Friend at that meeting they would be obliged to sign formal papers to place the charity into administration.

Refugee Migrant Justice: Legal Aid

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to ensure the prompt payment of legal aid to Refugee Migrant Justice by the Legal Services Commission.

Jonathan Djanogly: As I am sure the hon. Member is aware, RMJ are now in administration. Where any provider ceases to have a legal aid contract for whatever reason, the LSC will make an assessment of any potential financial issues in the individual circumstances. This will include payments on account made, claims to be billed and whether for example the provider will be continuing to conclude cases for existing clients. It may transpire that RMJ owe money to the LSC.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Border Agency: Manpower

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) senior executive officers and staff at Grade 7 and  (b) higher executive officers there were in the UK Border Agency (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Damian Green: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The number of  (a) senior executive offices and staff at Grade 7 and  (b) higher executive officers in the UK Border Agency and its predecessor the Border and Immigration Agency is set out in the following table. Data are only available from the present United Kingdom Border Agency personnel system (ADELPHI) back to 2005. 1997 figures for the grades covered have been obtained from the archive of the previous personnel system PIMMS, and are illustrative.
	Following machinery of government changes today's UK Border Agency has a wider function than its predecessors. It now includes UK Visas (from Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and HMRC Detection. Because of these changes the 2005 and 2010 figures are not directly comparable.
	
		
			   Immigration Directorate( 1)  (31 March 1997)  Border and Immigration Agency (31 March 2005)  United Kingdom Border Agency( 2) (31 May 2010) 
			 Grade 7(3) 33 229 577 
			 Senior executive officer (SEO) 114 466 1,492 
			 Higher executive officer (HEO) 550 1,242 3,241 
			 Total in grades shown 697 1,937 5,248 
			 (1) In 1997 the immigration function was carried out by a Home Office directorate rather than a Home Office agency, these figures will therefore undercount other Home Office staff in these grades earning out functions on behalf of the directorate, which would now be carried out within the agency. These staff can not be distinguished in archived data except at disproportionate cost. (2)( )Machinery of government changes have included UK Visas (formerly F and CO) and Detection formerly (HMRC) within these figures. The 2005 Border and Immigration Agency figures do not include these functions. The UK visa grade material included in this total was supplied by International Group support and is at 1 April 2010. ( 3) All figures are rounded active FTE. Grades shown include specialist equivalents.

Departmental Buildings

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what properties the UK Border Agency leases overseas; whether those buildings are shared with other Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies; and whether she plans to cancel the leases on those properties.

Damian Green: The overwhelming majority of property occupied by the UK Border Agency overseas is linked to the processing of visa applications. None of these buildings are leased by the UKBA; they are all leased and managed by the FCO, as part of a package of support services provided to the FCO for which a central charge is made. It is common practice for office accommodation to be shared with the FCO, where this represents the best use of the available office space. Over the last three years the UKBA have rationalised their footprint overseas by concentrating work into a reduced number of decision-making posts. They are currently investigating how further, similar savings can be made.
	The remainder of UKBA overseas property is linked to the operation of the juxtaposed control. The UK Border Agency rents residential and business properties on the continent for use by officials who operate from ports, terminals and office sites. These properties are not shared with other bodies and there are no plans to cease operation of these immigration controls.

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to bring Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 into effect.

James Brokenshire: Domestic violence is unacceptable. I will be discussing the specific issue of the implementation of Section 9 with colleagues across Government as we develop our broader approach to tackling violence against women and will report in due course.

Drugs: Misuse

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Drug Strategy in reducing the number of people dependent on illegal drugs.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 22 June 2010
	The ultimate goal of all drug treatment should be to help drug misusers become free of their addiction.
	A number of improvements have been made to the drug treatment system over the last decade such as access to treatment and a reduction in the numbers of individuals dropping out, building on the expert view that drug misusers should spend at least 12 weeks in treatment to derive some benefit.
	The latest data shows that, in 2008-09, 210,815 adults were in contact with treatment services. Of those, 194,572 (92%) were effectively engaged for 12 weeks or more, or if leaving before 12 weeks did so free of dependency. In 2008-09, 24,970 completed treatment free of dependency. The Home Office Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study has shown that for every £1 spent on drug treatment, an estimated £2.50 worth of benefits were obtained.
	The Public Accounts Committee's Thirtieth Report-Tackling Problem Drug Use-published on 24 March contained a key conclusion that the Home Office evaluates the spending and effectiveness of measures aimed at tackling problem drug use. The Department's response will be published shortly as a Treasury Minute.

Entry Clearances

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to implement the decision in visit entry clearance appeals VA/15347/2009 and VA/15353/2009 (New Delhi references 2649457 and 8) which were allowed on 6 July 2009.

Damian Green: I confirm that the applicants have now been invited to submit their passports to the visa section in New Delhi, with a view to the visas being issued as soon as possible. The UK Border Agency regrets the delay in these cases.

Identity Cards

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of sending notification letters to those who have purchased or applied for identity cards.

Theresa May: holding answer 22 June 2010
	The estimate for the cost of sending notification letters to all existing identity card holders is £20,000.
	These costs include printing, postage and enclosure costs and the cost of secure extraction of names and addresses from the National Identity Register.

Identity Cards

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of her Department's staff to be redeployed as a consequence of the end of the identity card programme.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 June 2010,  Official Report, column 552W.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to bring into force the provisions in the Crime and Security Act 2010 relating to regulation of the conduct of the private vehicle wheel-clamping industry; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 385W.

Offences against Children: Internet

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the subjects investigated under Operation Ore have been  (a) charged and  (b) convicted of offences related to the investigation; what the status of the investigation is; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The investigations generated by Operation Ore were initiated as a consequence of nationally co-ordinated disseminations to local UK police forces. The decision to proceed to investigation on these cases was a matter for the relevant chief constable. Information on Operation Ore is not collated centrally on a routine basis.
	However, from information supplied by UK police forces to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and its precursor agency, the National Crime Squad (NCS), more than 1,750 individuals were convicted, and another 700 people received a formal caution.

Police: Stun Guns

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the process of authorisation is for  (a) acquisition,  (b) possession and  (c) use of tasers by police.

Nick Herbert: In England and Wales, the acquisition, deployment and use of Tasers is an operational matter for chief officers of police. Conducted Energy Devices are classified as 'prohibited weapons' by virtue of section 5 Firearms Act 1968. Police officers in England and Wales while acting in their capacity as such, are exempt from the requirements of the legislation and do not need any additional legal authority to possess the Taser.
	Taser is available to Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) in England and Wales as a less lethal alternative for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted in accordance with criteria laid down in the Association of Chief Police Officers Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers. Since 20 July 2007 Taser has been deployed by AFOs outside of a firearms authority where officers are facing violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would need to use force to protect the public, themselves and/or the subject(s). Since 1 December 2008, Taser is also used in similar circumstances by specially trained units who are not authorised firearms officers.

Rape: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested on suspicion of rape in Warrington in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 22 June 2010
	 The information requested on arrests is not available.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) at main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and sexual offences. It is not possible to separately identify arrests for individual offences such as rape.

Smuggling: Ports

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mandatory checks UK Border Agency staff carry out for  (a) firearms,  (b) drugs,  (c) illegal entrants into the UK and  (d) trafficked people at (i) Calais and (ii) other ports with ferry connections to the UK.

Damian Green: Checks for firearms and drugs on passenger and freight traffic routed through all ports with ferry connections to the UK are conducted by the UK Border Agency on the basis of risk profiles and intelligence.
	All passengers and crew entering the UK are examined for immigration purposes at all ferry ports. The UK Border Agency uses intelligence, trend and risk profile to identify illegal entrants and those who have been trafficked.
	All Border Force officers undergo trafficking awareness training to help them identify those who might have been trafficked persons. If there are reasons to believe that a person has been trafficked the case is referred to the police.
	The UK Border Agency at the channel ports utilises a range of technologies to search for people; heartbeat detectors, passive millmetric wave imaging, CO2 probes and body detection dogs.
	The UK Border Agency, SOCA and police agencies on both sides of the channel have created a UK-France Joint Intelligence Unit which operates to crack down on the criminals behind illegal migration through Calais.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council England: Finance

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding from his Department the Arts Council holds in its reserves.

Edward Vaizey: The value of the Arts Council's reserves at 31 March 2009 stood at £18.4 million. Following the recent reductions to 2010-11 budgets, the Arts Council will use £9 million of its reserves in 2010-11 to mitigate the impact of these reductions on frontline arts organisations. It has also been agreed that a further £7 million of these reserves will be returned to DCMS. These measures mean that the Arts Council's reserves will be reduced to £2.4 million.

Bingo: Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of people who are employed in bingo clubs.

John Penrose: The information requested is available in the Gambling Commission Industry statistics. The latest data for 2008-09 is available at the following website:
	(page 6)
	http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/industry%20statistics%202008-2009%20-%20August%202009.pdf.pdf

Departmental Mobile Phones

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 148W, on departmental mobile phones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier is of the mobile phone issued to each Minister in the Department.

John Penrose: The Department uses Nokia mobile phones and BlackBerrys, which are primarily used for data, although some do have the voice function enabled.
	As two year contracts have been entered for the mobile phones and BlackBerrys, we have not incurred any costs for the handsets. Our mobile network provider is Vodafone and our Blackberry provider is O2. Mobile phones are on the Teamwork Government tariff, and BlackBerrys are on the Standard tariff.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review;
	(2)  how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed.

John Penrose: The work to review and renegotiate contracts will be taken forward over the coming months, led by the Department's existing procurement team of three staff and supported by colleagues who are users of the goods or services involved in individual contracts as needed. They will also be supported by project staff from Cabinet Office as well.

Listed Buildings: Compulsory Purchase

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many buildings in England listed as  (a) Grade 1 and  (b) Grade 2 he has purchased by means of a compulsory purchase order since 1992.

John Penrose: The records held by this Department, dating back to April 2006, indicate that DCMS has not purchased any listed buildings via a compulsory purchase order during this period. To obtain information on the number of listed buildings purchased by DCMS by means of a compulsory purchase order between 1992 and 2006 would incur disproportionate cost.

National Lottery: Grants

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much and what proportion of lottery funding he expects to be allocated to the Big Lottery in 2010-11.

John Penrose: The Big Lottery Fund will receive 50% of Lottery income in 2010-11. On current projections, this would amount to £732 million, though the actual amount will depend on the level of Lottery ticket sales. Out of this sum, Big Lottery Fund is contributing £172 million to the Olympic transfers.

Television: Advertising

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to end contract rights renewal undertakings.

Edward Vaizey: Responsibility for decisions on the future of contract rights renewal undertakings rests with the UK's independent competition authorities. The Competition Commission's report on its review of whether the undertakings should be varied was published on 12 May 2010. The Government are considering representations it has received suggesting that it should take some form of action in relation to the contracts rights renewal undertakings.
	These representations are being considered in the wider context of the Government's aim to reform the regulatory regime in the media sector.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Pensions

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to review the pension entitlement of regular members of the armed forces who were discharged before 5 April 1975 after fewer than 22 years' service.

Nick Harvey: No. Providing pensions for life this group, even if only paid from a future date, would cost hundreds of millions of pounds. In addition, this issue cannot be considered in isolation. Any changes applied to the armed forces schemes would raise similar legacy issues across all public sector schemes, with financial implications running into billions of pounds.

AWE Aldermaston

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 93W, on the Atomic Weapons Establishment, whether his Department has requested a defence environmental impact assessment exemption direction for the proposed new hydrodynamics facility, Project Hydrus, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence is currently in the process of requesting a Defence Environmental Impact Assessment Exemption Direction for Project Hydrus from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Liam Fox: Senior civil service (SCS) pay is managed by the Cabinet Office and performance incentives are paid primarily as non-consolidated performance payments.
	All satisfactory performers at SCS level were eligible to be considered for a non-consolidated performance award. In financial year 2009-10, permanent members of the SCS received performance awards totalling £1,594,500, which was within the pay-bill ceiling of 8.6%.
	Senior fixed term appointees (FTAs) are recruited from outside the civil service. They are on individual contracts and have a higher percentage of pay set to performance awards. In financial year 2009-10 senior FTA received performance awards totalling £838,393.
	For staff below the SCS, performance awards are paid to staff who meet the eligibility criteria.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) operates an in-year non-consolidated special bonus scheme (SBS), which rewards eligible MOD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification the use of which benefits MOD and the individual. Additionally, Ministry of Defence police officers may be awarded a payment for exceptional performance when dealing with particularly demanding one-off tasks or situations, unpleasant one-off tasks or situations, or important one-off tasks or situations.
	End of year non-consolidated performance related pay awards made to staff below the SCS in financial year 2009-10 totalled £40,240,963. SBS awards made to staff below the SCS in financial year 2009-10 totalled £3,990,953.
	This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds that have separate pay delegations.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what structural reforms to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation he is seeking.

Liam Fox: If NATO is to succeed as a modern security alliance, it needs the capability and flexibility to adapt to new threats, with leaner, more efficient and more effective structures. At a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on 10-11 June, I was encouraged that progress is being made on reforming its headquarters and rationalising its agencies. But as I made clear to the Secretary-General and to colleagues, NATO's Command Structure is also a key priority: it is too big, too static and too much is not optimised for the challenges we now face. Defence Ministers will review options for a revised structure in October.

Puma Helicopters

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable he has set for the Puma helicopter upgrade programme; and how many airframes will be available on completion.

Peter Luff: The Puma upgrade programme is progressing to schedule and is expected to be complete by the end of 2014 with 28 airframes being modified.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review.

Owen Paterson: The reductions in public expenditure recently announced by HM Treasury do not impact directly on any current policy or contractual responsibilities of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). No contracts between the Northern Ireland Office and current suppliers are, therefore, under review as a result of the recent announcement. The Department does, however, keep procurement under review at all times to ensure value for money.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed.

Owen Paterson: The reductions in public expenditure recently announced by HM Treasury do not impact directly on any current policy or contractual responsibilities of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). No contracts between the Northern Ireland Office and current suppliers are, therefore, under review and no staff are engaged on renegotiation as a result of the recent announcement. The Department does, however, keep procurement under review at all times to ensure value for money.

WALES

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 12W, on departmental mobile phones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier is of the mobile phone issued to each Minister in her Department.

Cheryl Gillan: The mobile telephones issued by my Department to Ministers are obtained through the central procurement arrangements provided by the Ministry of Justice. Under this arrangement, the telephones are on the standard Government tariff operated by Vodafone, and incur a purchase cost of £50 and a monthly line rental charge of £2 plus VAT. The current telephones are made by Nokia.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Landfill

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on banning the use of landfill.

Caroline Spelman: The Government's aim of moving towards a zero waste economy includes reducing the amount of recyclable and biodegradable waste we send to landfill. How best to do this will be part of the review of waste policies I announced last week but my instinct is not to introduce an outright ban because of the unintended consequences this might cause. There is an economic and environmental imperative to reduce the amount going to landfill and to recover as much valuable material as we can.

British Waterways

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of British Waterways.

Richard Benyon: I made a statement on 21 June 2010,  Official  Report, column 4WS, on inland waterways policy for England and Wales. The Government consider civil society has a valuable role to play in delivering public services as part of the big society. We will be looking, in detail, at options for a third sector model which would be appropriate for British Waterways, including the possible inclusion of Environment Agency navigations. No decisions will be taken until after the spending review.

Government Food: Farm Assured Sources

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the proportion of Government food procured from Farm Assured sources.

James Paice: We intend to do considerably better than the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that food procured by Government Departments, and eventually the whole public sector, meets British or equivalent right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to ministerial colleagues asking them to look closely at how they can help to meet this objective.
	We do not believe that it is acceptable to use taxpayers' money to buy food produced to lower standards than we expect of our own producers.

Biodiversity

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase levels of biodiversity; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Spelman: Biodiversity is one of my highest priorities, I will be taking action domestically, through a White Paper on the natural environment and will promote green spaces and wildlife corridors to restore and increase biodiversity. At an international level, I will ensure the UK shows leadership in this International Year of Biodiversity by working to achieve a global agreement on a new biodiversity framework at the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya in October.

Icelandic Volcano: UK Environment

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects of the eruptions of the active Icelandic volcano on the natural environment in this country.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has been assessing the impact of volcanic ash from Iceland's volcano on the natural environment. Air, water and herbage samples from across the UK are being analysed for elevated levels of contaminants from the ash. Results indicate levels well below those which may cause adverse effects. DEFRA is monitoring the situation closely and making plans for further volcanic activity, including eruptions of greater magnitude.

Farm Animal Welfare

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to promote farm animal welfare.

James Paice: We are committed to achieving high standards of animal welfare and are working through the detail of policies to ensure that we accomplish this.

Water and Sewerage Charges

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to reduce the number of households spending more than 3 per cent. of their income on water and sewerage charges.

Richard Benyon: The Government are examining the recommendations made in the Walker review of charging for household water and sewerage services, ahead of taking decisions on next steps. This includes the recommendations on water affordability.

Farmers: Young People

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to encourage young people to enter the farming industry.

James Paice: The most important change needed to encourage young people to enter farming is to ensure that the industry is publicly supported and recognised as important by the Government. The Government have pledged to encourage increased food production and development of our food processing sector.
	In addition DEFRA supports Fresh Start, an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
	DEFRA also supports the industry-led Agri-Skills Strategy which aims to promote the importance of skills in making a profitable and sustainable industry fully capable of meeting the demands and challenges of agriculture in the 21st century. Increasing the profitability and professionalism of farming will make it an increasingly attractive career choice for young people.

Food: Security

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to increase food security.

James Paice: An assessment of UK Food Security was published in August 2009 (and updated in January 2010) which shows that the UK enjoys a high level of food security. It is one of our priorities to ensure a secure, environmentally sustainable and healthy supply of food in the face of future challenges.

Wood: Imports

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on proposed EU legislation to control imports of illegally-felled timber.

James Paice: The UK is a strong supporter of EU legislation to eliminate the flow of illegal timber onto the market-commonly called the Due Diligence Regulation. The EU is close to agreement on a strong regulation that will include a prohibition to prevent illegal timber from entering the EU market. We are working with other EU member states, the Commission, and the European Parliament to finalise this agreement.
	The UK is also providing support to voluntary bilateral trade agreements between timber producing countries and the EU. These agreements require timber imports from signatory countries to be licensed to prove that they have been legally harvested.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons Staff: Pay

Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission how many staff of the House Service in each Department are remunerated at a rate above that of hon. Members.

Stuart Bell: The basic salary payable to Members is £65,738 per annum. As at June 2010, 83 employees were paid an annual salary at a rate above this figure. The breakdown by Department is:
	
		
			  Department  Staff numbers 
			 Department of Chamber and Committees Services 49 
			 Department of Facilities 7 
			 Department of Information Services 12 
			 Department of Resources 15 
			 Total 83 
		
	
	Details of the staff pay bands and staff pay arrangements are available on the parliamentary intranet. The salaries of Members of the Management Board are disclosed in the House of Commons: Administration annual accounts.

Parliamentary Questions: Email

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission whether the House of Commons Commission has considered the merits of enabling the  Official Report to accept written answers to parliamentary questions by e-mail.

Stuart Bell: The Commission recognise the merits of securing more efficient ways of transferring written material, including written answers to parliamentary questions, from Government Departments to the House. The  Official Report and PICT participated in a pilot scheme, led by the Leader of the House's Office, to establish within Government Departments a common, structured means of transferring written material to the House, but that initiative was unsuccessful.
	House officials involved in the Procedural Data Programme are now vigorously pursuing a new approach, with the aim of establishing a secure electronic means of supplying questions to, and receiving answers from, Government Departments.
	The House expects to realise the following benefits from e-delivery of questions and answers: less use of paper; less reliance on scanning technology, and thus reduced support and maintenance overheads; less time required to process hard copies of answers in the  Official Report, generating staffing efficiencies; and increased speed of publication.
	The other current recipients of paper copies of answers-the Library, the Press Gallery and, of course, Members themselves-will be consulted on suitable methods of delivery of answers in the future.

UK Youth Parliament:

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission what recent representations the House of Commons Commission has received from the UK Youth Parliament on holding an annual sitting in the Chamber.

Stuart Bell: Although the Commission has not received any such representations, the UK Youth Parliament has raised this possibility with the Speaker and others. Preliminary discussions are taking place about another meeting in the Chamber in the autumn. Such a meeting will require the approval of the House, as occurred on 16 March 2009.

TRANSPORT

A5: M1

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the A5-M1 link; what previous estimates have been made of the cost of the scheme; and when each such estimate was made.

Michael Penning: holding answer 22 June 2010
	Due to the uncertainty of certain costs when building a road, the Highways Agency calculates the maximum and minimum forecast spend on the scheme to create a range estimate. A figure in the middle of the range estimate is then used for planning purposes. The current scheme range estimate for the A5-M1 Link is £134 million to £189 million with a mid range estimate of £162 million. This is based on a detailed review of scheme costs in September 2009.
	In relation to previous estimates, the July 2008 scheme range estimate was £121 million to £156 million with a mid range estimate of £139 million. This was based on M1 J10-13 being constructed as a widening scheme.
	The March 2009 scheme range estimate was £160 million to £218 million with a mid range estimate of £189 million. This was based on an initial assessment of the cost of A5-M1 Link following the decision to change M1 J10-13 from a widening to Managed Motorways scheme with the resulting transfer of some statutory diversion and structure works at Junction 11A to the A5-M1 scheme.

Bedford Station

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the redevelopment of Bedford railway station as part of the Thameslink Programme has been designated non-critical.

Theresa Villiers: As part of the coalition Government's commitment to prudent spending, work to create an additional platform and new ticket hall at Bedford will be deferred as these facilities are not needed until the London Bridge station redevelopment is completed. This work is currently scheduled to be completed at the end of 2016.
	We anticipate that platform extension work allowing 12 car trains to stop at Bedford will be finished by December 2011 as planned.

Bus Services: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allocate funding to support the development of additional bus services serving Ashfield constituency.

Norman Baker: It is for local authorities to decide the best use of resources to fund local bus services. The Department for Transport has no plans to provide specific direct funding for additional bus services in Ashfield.

Bus Services: Concessions

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for future levels of expenditure on the national concessionary bus travel scheme.

Norman Baker: The level of future funding for concessionary travel will be a matter for the spending review. The Government's commitment to protect free bus travel for older people is set out in the coalition agreement. The right to free bus travel for both older and disabled people is enshrined in primary legislation.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a BlackBerry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Norman Baker: The following equipment has been issued to Ministers:
	
		
			  Number 
			  Minister  BlackBerry  iPhone  Other mobile  PDA 
			 Secretary of State Phillip Hammond (1)1 0 0 0 
			 Minister of State Theresa Villiers 1 0 0 0 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary Norman Baker 1 0 0 0 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary Mike Penning 1 0 0 0 
			 (1 )On order. 
		
	
	Neither PDAs nor iPhones have ever been issued to Ministers.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport makes documents and other information available in languages other than English to ensure individuals understand their rights and have access to the Department's services in accordance with human rights and race relations Acts, and to meet the requirements of the Welsh Language Act (1993). Information on individual translated documents and other information for the Department and associated public bodies can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Documents are considered on a case by case basis with regard to their purpose and likely readership and are translated only where necessary.
	The estimated cost of translations commissioned by the Department for the most recent financial year available is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Translation costs( 1) 
			  £000 
			   2009-10( 2) 
			 Central Department (DFT(C)) 46.0 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) (3)11.6 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 89.4 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) (3)0.0 
			 Highways Agency (HA) 2.0 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 8.8 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) 0.8 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) (3)85.5 
			 (1) These figures may include translations into English, but the majority of translations are from English into another language. (2) Data for 2009-10 expenditure are provisional and subject to audit-2009-10 resource accounts have yet to be published. (3) 2008-09.

East Coast Railway Line

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the future of the East Coast Main Line route.

Theresa Villiers: The Secretary of State has received a number of representations from Members of this House and others regarding plans for future timetable changes on the East Coast Main Line. He has also received representations regarding the possibility of co-operative organisations bidding for the next Inter City East Coast franchise.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to encourage the use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: We announced in the coalition agreement, that the Government will mandate a national charging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
	Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle are currently supported through the taxation system: drivers of such vehicles are exempt from paying vehicle excise duty and fuel duty; businesses which purchase electric and low carbon cars can claim enhanced capital allowances and people who use electric cars as their company car pay lower rates of 'benefit in kind' taxation.
	In addition to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' recent announcement of support for Nissan's manufacturing investments, the Department for Transport is currently considering the provision of direct support for purchases of low-carbon vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and will make a statement as soon as possible.

First Capital Connect

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent assessment is of the standard of passenger train services provided by First Capital Connect on the Thameslink franchise.

Theresa Villiers: The most recent assessment of First Capital Connect's passenger service performance was for the period between 2 and 29 May 2010. Performance has been improving with First Capital Connect achieving a public performance measure figure of 93.5%.
	The most recent National Passenger Survey dated spring 2010 assessed First Capital Connect as providing an overall passenger satisfaction rate of 76%.

London Underground: Finance

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes there will be made in the overall budget of London Underground in 2010-11 as a consequence of the spending reductions announced on 24 May 2010.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has consulted the Mayor of London on a proposed reduction to Transport for London's grant in 2010-11. London Underground is a subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL) and it is for the Mayor to decide how to accommodate the reduction in TfL's grant.
	The in-year reduction in grant funding to TfL is equivalent to just over 1% of TfL's total 2010-11 budget.

Midland Metro

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he plans to allocate to the  (a) extension and  (b) future development of the Midland Metro through Dudley to Brierley Hill.

Norman Baker: Until the spending review has been concluded, the Department for Transport is unable to provide any assurance on its intention to fund any extensions to the existing Midland Metro Line One.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the Driving Standards Agency cancelled the motorcycle trainer workshops due to be held in  (a) Twickenham on 26 January 2010 and  (b) Leeds on 29 January 2010.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) planned these motorcycle trainer workshops with the expectation that at least 250 trainers would attend each event. By mid January fewer than 30 trainers had registered for each event. DSA therefore decided to cancel as to continue with the much smaller numbers would not have represented good value for money.
	DSA is considering whether these events are the most effective way to engage and communicate with motorcycle trainers in the longer term. Given the current fiscal climate, there are no plans to reinstate these events during the current financial year.

Railway Stations: Greater London

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department made an assessment of the merits of providing a station stop at Brixton on the East London Line London Overground extension.

Theresa Villiers: The case for a new station at Brixton High Level was assessed in 2007 by Network Rail as part of the South London Route Utilisation Strategy. Because of its elevated position the new station was estimated to cost around £25 million. A decision was therefore made, by Network Rail, that it could not be proceeded with at this time because of the cost involved.
	A decision to implement the new station is ultimately a matter for the Mayor and Network Rail.

Railways: Electrification

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work has been commissioned in relation to the electrification of the  (a) Liverpool-Manchester line and  (b) London-Swansea line; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 21 June 2010
	On both routes, Network Rail have carried out survey and early design work. Network Rail expect the projects to reach the "GRIP 2" stage later this summer, which means that the scope and costs will have been developed in sufficient detail to support progress to the next stage of the development process.
	The Government support rail electrification as it helps to reduce carbon emissions and cut running costs. However, our priority is tackling the fiscal deficit and Ministers will consider the full range of proposed transport projects in parallel with the spending review process to ascertain what is affordable.

Railways: North East

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of cost savings by Network Rail on rail services in the North East in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail is required by the independent Office of Rail Regulation's five-year periodic review settlement to deliver efficiency savings of 24% by the end of March 2014. It is for Network Rail to determine how to make those efficiency savings.
	Network Rail has now indicated that, subject to the consent of the Office of Rail Regulation, it will reduce its spending by a further £100 million on interventions which yield lower value for money relative to other programmes. The benefit to Government will be realised this financial year but the reduction in expenditure will be implemented over the remainder of the five-year Control Period 4 to the end of March 2014.
	Network Rail has not given any indication of what portion of this reduction in expenditure will expect the North East of England. We do not expect this reduction to affect rail services.

Railways: North West

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department 
	(1)  has  (a) established a timetable and  (b) allocated funding for the implementation of the Northern Hub project;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the rail network of the proposed Northern Hub project;
	(3)  whether he plans to undertake a review of the Northern Hub project; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has worked closely with Network Rail during the Northern Hub Rail Study. Network Rail is currently carrying out further development work on the Northern Hub, which includes a detailed review of each element of the project. The Department notes Network Rail's assessment of the implications for the rail network and is aware of the benefits to the northern economy that investment in the Hub and rail services would bring. No funding has yet been allocated for the implementation of the Northern Hub. The scope for future rail infrastructure investment will depend on decisions that will be made in the comprehensive spending review in the autumn.

Road Signs and Markings: Sponsorship

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of allowing the private sponsorship of road signs; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The private sponsorship of roadside infrastructure is a matter for local highway authorities. However, it is not the lawful function of traffic signs to serve as advertisements and the Government have no plans to assess the merits of allowing advertising on traffic signs. The information displayed on traffic signs and the number of signs provided must be kept to a minimum to avoid unnecessary driver distraction.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to remove the link between the allocation of local authority highways funding and the requirement to observe national priorities.

Norman Baker: No such explicit link exists, though in general terms, the Coalition Government have made plain its intention to allow greater freedom to local authorities.
	No specific decisions will be taken on future funding for local authority highways until after the spending review.

Rolling Stock

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make more transparent the process for determining when extra rolling stock will be deployed to relieve passenger overcrowding on the railway network.

Theresa Villiers: The Government recognise the importance of addressing overcrowding problems on the rail network but all policy interventions are subject to appraisal which considers whether they provide value for money to the Exchequer. The appraisal process follows the guidance published by the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/
	The process of determining rolling stock allocation to train operators involves complex commercial negotiations with industry parties, and is handled confidentially in order to secure the best outcome for the taxpayer and the rail user.

Rolling Stock

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages have been added to train services in West Yorkshire in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: In the past five years, additional carriages have been deployed on rail services in West Yorkshire in two phases.
	In December 2006 an additional 12 Class 158 carriages were deployed for crowding relief in West Yorkshire.
	In December 2008 eight Class 158 carriages were added to enable a new Leeds-Nottingham hourly service to be introduced.

Rolling Stock

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages have been added to train services in London and the South East in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: As part of the High Level Output Specification process, the following additional carriages are now being operated on services in London and the south-east:
	
		
			   Number 
			 London Midland 28 
			 National Express East Anglia 16 
			 First Capital Connect 112 
			 Southeastern 48 
			 Southern 6 
			 Total 210 
		
	
	Furthermore, in December 2009, 174 class 395 carriages were introduced on high speed train services in Kent. Transport for London has ordered 216 new vehicles for services on the North and East London lines, and most are in service.

Rolling Stock

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to add carriages to train services in West Yorkshire in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Following the National Audit Office Report entitled 'Increasing Rail Capacity', the Department for Transport is undertaking a reappraisal of the previous Government's programme for additional rolling stock, including a reassessment of the business case for each procurement in the light of the changed circumstances. This will review all the options. The proposals relating to services in West Yorkshire will be part of this reassessment.

Rolling Stock

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent instructions he has issued in relation to the provision of additional carriages on the rail network; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue a rolling stock plan giving details of his Department's plans to manage future trends in passenger numbers on the rail network.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are assessing their policy for addressing crowding on the rail network in the light of overall spending constraints over the next few years. Proposals by the previous administration for the purchase of additional carriages will be appraised and assessed for affordability, in parallel with the process for determining the Department for Transport's budgets for the spending review period.

Severn Bridge: Repairs and Maintenance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Severn River Crossing plc on liabilities for long term repairs when the bridges are taken into public ownership; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Highways Agency meets regularly with Severn River Crossing plc (SRC), which is the concessionaire for the Severn Crossing, to ensure handover arrangements are in place when the concession ends. SRC carries out a rigorous schedule of inspections to identify maintenance requirements and is required to maintain and repair defects in compliance with the concession.
	At handover the condition of the bridges must be to an agreed standard, to enable the bridges to remain in a serviceable condition for the remainder of their design lives. The risk for defects which existed before the start of the concession, such as corrosion on the M48 Severn Bridge cables, was not transferred to SRC and remains the responsibility of the Secretary of State.
	Once the crossings have been handed back to the Secretary of State, the cost of future maintenance and repairs will be the responsibility of the Government.
	The SRC operates under a Concession Agreement (CA) which was signed in October 1990. The concession period began in April 1992 and will end when SRC has collected a defined amount of money from toll revenue (£995,830,000 in 1989 prices), or up to a maximum of 30 years. The end date is currently predicted for the first half of 2017.

Written Questions: Government Responses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to respond to the letter of 24 May 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mrs Nadia McMahon.

Theresa Villiers: I responded to my hon. Friend for Basildon and Billericay on 22 June 2010.

PRIME MINISTER

Decentralisation and Localism Bill

John Healey: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for introducing the Decentralisation and Localism Bill.

David Cameron: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will be the Minister responsible.

Departmental Internet

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Prime Minister what timetable he has set for the review of  (a) e-petitions and  (b) other on-line services on the 10 Downing street website.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the information on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/communicate/e-petitions

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether his adviser on health and safety law and practice, the right hon. Lord Young of Graffham, will receive  (a) a salary,  (b) expenses and  (c) any other payment in that capacity;
	(2)  which candidates he considered for the position of adviser on health and safety law and practice.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the Press Notice issued by my Office on Monday 14 June 2010. A copy of which is available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/06/pm-announces-review-of-health-and-safety-laws-51726
	Lord Young will not be receiving a salary, expenses or any other payment in relation to his work as my adviser on health and safety law and practice.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Mobile Telephones

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 224W, on departmental mobile telephones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier was in respect of the telephone issued to (i) him and (ii) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

David Mundell: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The purchase cost of each BlackBerry handset was £250.
	 (b) The network provider for both handsets is Vodafone.
	 (c) Both handsets are on the 'Teamwork + BlackBerry' tariff.
	 (d) Vodafone supplied both handsets.

Devolution

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department had with the Ministry of Defence on the implications of devolution prior to Royal Assent to the Scotland Act 1998.

Michael Moore: None. As the Member will know, the Scotland Office only came into existence upon the passing of the Scotland Act 1998.
	However, defence of the UK and associated industries are very important to Scotland. As such, I intend to speak regularly with the Defence Secretary on range of issues relevant to Scotland, particularly once the implications of the Strategic Defence and Security Review are known.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents who were paying child support to the Child Support Agency directly from their salary by deduction from earnings orders in financial year 2009-10 lost some or all of their payments after their employer went into receivership.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents who were paying child support to the Child Support Agency directly from their salary by Deduction from Earnings Orders in financial year 2009-10 lost some or all of their payments after their employer went into receivership.
	The information you requested is not available as the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (the Commission) does not collate this type of information for management information purposes. However, you may find it helpful to know, as at March 2010, it is estimated that 117,600 cases are receiving maintenance via a deduction from earnings order or request.
	In England and Wales, if the non-resident parent's employer enters bankruptcy or liquidation, the non-resident parent is responsible for paying any maintenance which was deducted from their wages by their employer and not paid over to the Commission, and for recovering any money deducted from their employer. They can do this through lodging a claim in the insolvency proceedings.
	The official receiver or liquidator appointed to look after the affairs of the employer gives employees a comprehensive information pack which should cover every eventuality, including the non-payment of deductions to the Commission. If a non-resident parent has specific questions not covered in this pack, they should contact the official receiver or liquidator directly.
	Scottish law is different. Any money deducted by a deduction from earning order remains part of the non-resident parent's wages until the Commission receives it. However the Commission is responsible for claiming the money and the Commission must lodge a claim in the insolvency proceedings for money deducted and not paid over.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) front line and  (b) other staff were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the public purse of employing staff of each type at each of those bodies.

Chris Grayling: The number of staff employed by the Department and each of its agencies as at 31 March 2010 is set out as follows:
	
		
			   Jobcentre Plus  Pension, Disability and Carers Service  Departmental staff (shared services) 
			 Front-line staff 80,742 12,737 1,392 
			 Other staff 1,905 1,232 10,847 
			 Total 82,647 13,969 12,239 
			  Note: Staff figures are shown as full-time equivalents. 
		
	
	The Department categorises 'front-line' staff as operational staff serving external customers and other staff directly supporting these functions.
	The costs associated with the figures cannot be supplied without disproportionate cost.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 362W, on departmental mobile telephones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier was of the BlackBerry devices issued to (i) the Minister for Employment, (ii) the Minister for Disabled People and (iii) the Minister for Pensions.

Chris Grayling: The purchase cost of each handset is £300. The managed service provider is BT and the network provider is Vodafone. The tariff used is the 'Teamworker' tariff-monthly rental and support charges for each handset are £43.75. The costs of the DWP's Blackberry service are higher than that available through the retail market because of additional departmental requirements in relation to security and resilience.
	These costs are identical with those incurred for the same service under the previous Government.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review.

Chris Grayling: All areas of DWP third party expenditure are coming under close scrutiny to reduce costs either through contract renegotiation, demand management or collaboration with other Departments to generate economies of scale. This work will be undertaken in accordance with guidance from Efficiency and Reform Group.
	The monetary value of all such contracts during 2009-10 was £4.2 billion.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed.

Chris Grayling: All areas of DWP third party expenditure are coming under close scrutiny to reduce costs either through contract renegotiation, demand management or collaboration with other Departments to generate economies of scale. This work will be undertaken by officials across the organisation in accordance with guidance from the Efficiency and Reform Group.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Young Person's Guarantee in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry.

Chris Grayling: The Young Person's Guarantee is still being maintained, and the next release of statistics will be on 11 August.
	Statistics are available on the Future Jobs Fund which cover the period from October 2009 to January 2010. They show that there were 940 recorded Future Jobs Fund starts in the Jobcentre Plus west midlands region. The information requested on Coventry is not available.
	The Future Jobs Fund created temporary, short-term jobs, and the grants did not include any incentives to move people into permanent posts. The Government are investing £150 million to create 50,000 new apprenticeship places which will equip people with the skills they need and allow people to move into a long-term job. Next year we are also introducing a new single Work Programme which will provide better targeted support and deliver long lasting benefits with a greater focus on sustained employment.
	Until the new Work Programme is in place, the Government will ensure that young people continue to receive the support they need.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to support young people unemployed for more than six months to find employment;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to support youth employment.

Chris Grayling: The Government aim to have the new Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011. This will help young people move into sustained employment rather than temporary jobs, and everyone, including young people, will have access to a fully integrated and coherent system of back to work support. We are also planning further support for young people, including intensive work experience, more apprenticeships and more further education places.
	Although the precise design of the Work Programme is still in development, the Government will ensure that young people receive the support that they need.

Funeral Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many funeral payments have been reclaimed in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 2000;
	(2)  what the value has been of funeral payments reclaimed in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 2000.

Steve Webb: Information regarding funeral payments for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of funeral payment claims on which some recovery was made in Great Britain by country and financial year 
			   England  Wales  Scotland 
			 2000-01 990 90 200 
			 2001-02 720 80 160 
			 2002-03 1,600 140 230 
			 2003-04 1,810 140 250 
			 2004-05 2,060 190 170 
			 2005-06 2,110 170 170 
			 2006-07 2,570 140 170 
			 2007-08 1,990 140 170 
			 2008-09 1,580 140 80 
			 2009-10 560 60 40 
		
	
	
		
			  Funeral payment recovery amount in Great Britain by country and financial year 
			  £ million 
			   England  Wales  Scotland 
			 2000-01 0.56 0.06 0.13 
			 2001-02 0.41 0.05 0.12 
			 2002-03 0.86 0.06 0.15 
			 2003-04 1.00 0.07 0.14 
			 2004-05 1.16 0.10 0.11 
			 2005-06 1.09 0.08 0.11 
			 2006-07 0.85 0.05 0.09 
			 2007-08 0.57 0.04 0.08 
			 2008-09 0.61 0.05 0.06 
			 2009-10 0.17 0.01 0.04 
			  Notes: 1. Both tables are for funeral payment claims recovered in full or in part. 2. The number of funeral payments on which some recovery was made has been rounded to the nearest 10 and the amount recovered to the nearest £0.01 million.  Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Funeral Payments

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 281W, on funeral payments, if he will increase the maximum amount payable as a funeral payment.

Steve Webb: There are no current plans to increase the maximum amount of £700 payable to cover disbursements. Cremation and burial costs are not subject to this limit and will continue to be paid in full.

Future Jobs Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what statistical evidence on the effectiveness of the Future Jobs Fund programme he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such item of evidence.

Chris Grayling: We are publishing official statistics covering the take-up of the Young Person's Guarantee, including the Future Jobs Fund. The first release of official statistics, covering the period October 2009 to January 2010, was published in May 2010. A copy of the statistical release has been placed in the Library of the House. The next release of official statistics is planned to take place later this summer.
	We plan to conduct a full evaluation of the Future Jobs Fund in 2011.

Future Jobs Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received work placements through the Future Jobs Fund since the programme's inception.

Chris Grayling: The latest official statistics, covering the period from October 2009 to January 2010, show that nationally 8,660 people started jobs funded by the Future Jobs Fund.

Future Jobs Fund: Barnsley

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of assistance from the Future Jobs Fund in  (a) Barnsley East and  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. However, the most recent Official Statistics covering the period October 2009 to January 2010 show that there were 700 recorded Future Jobs Fund starts in the Jobcentre Plus Yorkshire and Humberside region.

Future Jobs Fund: Streatham

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many residents of  (a) the London Borough of Lambeth and  (b) Streatham constituency have received work placements through the Future Jobs Fund;
	(2)  how many individuals have received work placements under the Future Jobs Fund at premises in Streatham constituency since the programme's inception.

Chris Grayling: The requested information is not available. However, across London the latest official statistics, covering the period October 2009 to January 2010, show that 840 people started jobs funded by the Future Jobs Fund.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the merits of bringing into line with the actual mortgage interest rate paid by claimants of benefits under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme the Standard Interest Rate used to calculate such payments.

Steve Webb: Customer's actual interest rates were used in the past to calculate Support for Mortgage Interest. But that method was abandoned in 1995, in favour of a standard interest rate, which has proved to be far more efficient and straightforward.
	The pre-1995 arrangements, where customers' actual rates were used by the Department, were extremely complex to administer, prone to error and added cost. Reverting to that system carries an unacceptably high risk of increased overpayments and inefficiency, is resource intensive, and would not support the Government's aim of simplifying the benefit system.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made an estimate of the  (a) number and  (b) monetary value of excess payments made under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme.

Steve Webb: At the current Standard Interest Rate of 6.08%, the Department for Work and Pensions has estimated from a small sample of data that 92% (207,000) of the 225,000 customers who received Support for Mortgage Interest in November 2009 will receive awards in excess of their eligible mortgage interest outgoings.
	The Department's systems do not hold information on the actual rate of interest that Support for Mortgage Interest customers pay, so no estimate of the monetary value of excess payments is available.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review.

Bob Neill: The Department is currently reviewing all new and existing contracts. The total value of all contract spend last year was £313 million.

Departmental Voluntary Work

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the policy of his Department is on the recognition in staff appraisals of staff who undertake voluntary activities outside his Department.

Bob Neill: The Department's guidance on performance management does not require managers and staff to consider volunteering when assessing individual annual performance.
	However, the Department promotes a variety of development related volunteering opportunities to enable everyone to play an active part in their community. CLG staff are asked to record these activities within their Personal Learning and Development Plans.

Housing: Construction

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) local authority housing and  (b) other housing developments funded from the public purse are under review as a result of the expenditure reduction programme announced for 2010-11; how many houses are to be provided in each such development; how much funding his Department has allocated to each; at what address and in which parliamentary constituency each is located; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The announcement on 24 May set out the immediate savings of over £6 billion that needed to be made as down-payment on the public deficit. Housing budgets for 2010-11 are also subject, however, to the provision of end year flexibility. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced on 17 June that he is reviewing the affordability of a range of end year flexibility agreements made by the previous administration, and an announcement on the outcome of this is expected shortly. A full review of housing projects will be undertaken, once the final funding position for 2010-11 is clear.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the change to the number of homes to be built under  (a) the National Affordable Housing Programme,  (b) the Kickstart scheme and  (c) the Housing Market Renewal Programme as a result of the budgetary reductions announced on 24 May 2010.

Grant Shapps: The coalition Government are committed to reducing the United Kingdom's budget deficit. It has led us to identify savings across Government, starting with the £6 billion of immediate savings this year that we announced on 24 May, including the £150 million reduction against the previous Administration's housing pledge. Against this £170 million has been provided for 2010-11 to safeguard delivery of around 4,000, otherwise unfunded, social rented homes. It is estimated that the £150 million reduction will reduce the number of affordable housing starts by around 5,000 but these changes will mainly fall to shared ownership and shared equity schemes-not social rented housing.
	The Department is consulting on the mechanism by which the Housing Market Renewal reduction of £50 million will take place. In addition we will un-ring fence HMR expenditure in order to provide maximum flexibility at a local level. At this stage the final decision on individual allocations has still to be taken. It will be for individual HMR Pathfinders to manage the reductions and to review the varying impact.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides to councils on assessing levels of housing need in their area.

Bob Neill: Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing and the Strategic Housing Market Assessment Practice Guidance can assist local authorities on how to assess the level of housing need in their area. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the leader of each local authority in England on 27 May to reaffirm our commitment to abolish regional strategies and return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils. Decisions on housing supply will rest with local planning authorities without the framework of regional numbers and plans.
	In the coalition agreement the Government stated that they will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development. We will make an announcement on how we propose to take forward the national planning framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy.

Housing: Hull

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on continuing the housing regeneration scheme for the Orchard Park Estate in Hull under the private finance initiative.

Andrew Stunell: The Orchard Park Estate is a Round 6 Housing PFI project. In July 2009 the council was invited to develop its outline business case following the Department's acceptance of its Expression of Interest.
	Since then, the council has reviewed its proposals and has been in discussion with the Homes and Communities Agency regarding the submission of a revised scheme.
	The Department will be taking a fresh look in the spending review at how its housing programmes, including Housing PFI, can best offer genuine value for money.

Local Government Bill

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials have been assigned to work on the Local Government Bill.

Bob Neill: Within my Department, the total number of officials currently working on the Local Government Bill is five full-time equivalents.

Rented Housing: Private Sector

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take in response to the recommendations of the Rugg Review on the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St Ives (Andrew George) on 22 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 162-63W.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's planned budget for the Decent Homes programme was at the start of the 2010-11 financial year; and whether that budget has been changed since 6 May 2010.

Andrew Stunell: At the start of 2010-11 the Decent Homes budget was £848 million, covering the arm's length management organisation programme: local authority supported capital expenditure; and gap funding arrangements that support some housing transfer schemes. No decisions to change this budget have been taken since 6 May. These figures would have been higher had funding reductions of £150 million not been made to the Decent Housing programme in July 2009.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on completion of the Decent Homes programme in  (a) local authority and  (b) housing association properties.

Andrew Stunell: The Government believe all social housing should meet a minimum standard of decency, and will continue to invest in the Decent Homes programme as resources allow.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the refurbishment of social housing under the Decent Homes programme to be completed.

Andrew Stunell: Completion of the backlog of repairs to council housing depends on additional capital resource. Future funding for the Decent Homes programme will be decided in the context of the Government's Spending Review. These figures would have been lower had funding reductions of £150 million not been made to the Decent Housing programme in July 2009.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) local authority and  (b) housing association properties remaining to be refurbished under the Decent Homes programme on 31 March 2012.

Andrew Stunell: Using social landlords' statistical returns for the year 2008-09 we have forecast that 160,000 local authority and 58,000 housing association properties will be counted as non-decent at the end of March 2012. These figures would have been lower had funding reductions of £150 million not been made to the Decent Housing programme in July 2009.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Government Assistance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized businesses in Witham constituency have received support under each business support scheme operated by his Department since 2007.

Mark Prisk: The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and Business Link hold business support data by local authority district. From these records EEDA has assisted one business in Witham since 2007, which received a £200,000 grant for research and development (R and D). A further three other companies across the Braintree local authority district have, or are in the process of receiving support, one via an R and D grant and the other two through Proof of Market funding.
	Business Link has supported 8,174 SMEs and pre-starts across the Braintree local authority district since the beginning of 2007-08 financial year.

Co-operatives and Social Enterprises

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) registered social enterprises and  (b) co-operatives are registered in each (i) region and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	Like other businesses, there is no single legal form for social enterprise and as a result they are not required to register with any one body. The figures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' Annual Small Business Survey (2005-07), suggest that there are at least 60,000 social enterprises.
	Although we do not collect regional or parliamentary constituency figures for co-operatives, Co-operatives UK report that there are over 4300 co-operatives in the UK.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future provision of financial support for students aged between 16 and 19 years.

Nick Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
	I can confirm that the education maintenance allowance (EMA) will be paid in full this year. In addition, eligible students may also get support for child care costs through the care to learn scheme, and hardship funds are provided to eligible students through discretionary learner support funds. Longer term plans for financial support for students aged between 16 and 19 will be considered in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review in the autumn.

Food: Training

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will meet representatives of the British curry industry to discuss assistance from his Department for training for chefs in the industry.

John Hayes: I plan to meet with Sector Skills Councils regularly to discuss their skills needs, including with People 1st who are responsible for skills and training in the hospitality industry. I know that People 1st has ongoing discussions with representatives from the Asian and Oriental catering industry and there is an agreed strategy in place.

Further Education: Finance

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what criteria will be used to determine the allocation of the £50 million fund for further education capital development announced on 17 June 2010;
	(2)  what proportion of the £50 million for further education capital development announced on 17 June 2010, will be allocated to the College of North West London under that programme;
	(3)  if he will take steps to compensate further education colleges whose capital budgets have been reduced as a result of Learning and Skills Agency management; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: This Government fully appreciates the disappointment of those colleges who had planned capital projects put on hold by the Learning and Skills Council due to the lack of funding last year.
	This Government cannot undo the previous mismanagement of the FE Capital Programme but will ensure that all efforts are made to ensure it does not happen again.
	On the 24 May, as part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on the £6 billion of efficiency savings to be realised in 2010/11, it was announced that £50 million would be re-prioritised from Train to Gain to further education capital. On the 21 June, government made a further announcement setting out the details for how this additional money would be invested.
	All colleges that received less than £5 million in grant support since 2001 will receive a share of the £30 million renewal grant. This will support approximately 150 colleges in total across the country. Each will receive approximately £225,000, with an expectation that such investment will facilitate considerable additional private finance.
	The remaining £20 million will be made available to the same colleges through an enhanced renewal grant. At least 20 colleges will have the opportunity to add to their renewal grant, by bidding to build their total allocation to £1 million. Colleges will be expected to attract substantial additional private finance, resulting in final projects of significant value.
	Applications for the enhanced renewal grant will be assessed using key criteria, including the existing condition of bidding colleges' estates and facilities; resulting benefits to learners; and the contribution which each applicant's proposals make to the regeneration of their local community. Projects will be expected to meet exacting design standards, ensuring a built legacy of which all concerned can be proud.
	I understand that the College of North West London had previously received capital grant support, and as such, will not be eligible to access the £50 million fund. It is recognised that this may leave ineligible colleges feeling disappointed, but this Government believe it is right to target resource at those who have to date benefited least and believe we will see significant improvements for learners as a result.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what meetings have been held of the higher education sub-group of the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism since his appointment; which officials at each civil service grade attended each meeting; what matters were discussed at each meeting; what further meetings are planned; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to deal with anti-Semitism  (a) on university campuses and  (b) in student unions; what recent discussions he has had on the issue with representatives of the Jewish community; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 22 June 2010
	There have been no meetings of the BIS Anti-Semitism and HE Group since my appointment. I have had no meetings so far to discuss anti-Semitism in higher education with representatives of the Jewish community. However, I am due to meet with representatives of the Jewish community and the HE sector to discuss this issue and the work of the BIS Anti-Semitism and HE Group.
	There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education, whether on campus or in student unions. Universities have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and have supported institutions with key guidance on promoting good campus relations in the sector.

Nuclear Fusion: Research

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors spent on nuclear fusion research in  (a) the UK and  (b) abroad in each of the last 10 years; what resources and personnel have been provided by the UK to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) international fusion project; and what response he plans to make to the request from the ITER consortium for additional resources.

David Willetts: Figures for the Government funding of nuclear fusion research in the UK in each of the last 10 years are given below. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) took over the responsibility for funding the fusion programme in 2003/04.
	Euratom also funds fusion research in the UK through the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Euratom manages the European fusion research programme, including the European contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion research project. The UK does not provide direct funding to ITER, but contributes indirectly to ITER through its payments to the EU budget.
	The Spanish presidency of the EU has set up a task force to examine the ITER funding issue, and its conclusions will be considered by the Council of Ministers in due course.
	
		
			  Financial Year/UK Government expenditure on fusion research 
			   £ million 
			 2000/01 17.0 
			 2001/02 14.4 
			 2002/03 14.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial Year/EPSRC funding for fusion research 
			   £ million 
			 2003/04 15.9 
			 2004/05 19.4 
			 2005/06 17.3 
			 2006/07 22.3 
			 2007/08 21.7 
			 2008/09 32.6 
			 2009/10 20.0

Peru: EU External Trade

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will discuss with  (a) the European Commission,  (b) members of the European Parliament and  (c) his EU counterparts the environmental and social effects of the proposed EU free trade agreement with Peru; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement includes a clause covering environmental and social issues in the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter. This clause commits both the EU and Peru and Colombia to environmental and labour standards rights.
	Throughout the negotiations, officials have discussed environmental and social issues with the European Commission, EU counterparts and Members of the European Parliament and, will continue to do so as the agreement progresses.

Regional Development Agencies

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of Yorkshire Forward; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Government will provide further detail on the future of the regional development agencies and how we propose to take forward our proposals for local enterprise partnerships shortly.

Unemployment: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry have found (i) employment or (ii) a work placement as a result of the Young Person's Guarantee.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The Young Person's Guarantee is still being maintained, and the next release of statistics will be on 11 August.
	Statistics are available on the Future Jobs Fund which cover the period from October 2009 to January 2010. They show that there were 940 recorded Future Jobs Fund starts in the Jobcentre Plus west midlands region. The information requested on Coventry is not available.

Vocational Training: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to improve  (a) youth and  (b) adult skills in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is seeking to improve skills levels by directing public funding where it will bring the clearest benefits.
	We have begun to rebalance skills provision by redeploying £150 million of Train to Gain funding to create 50,000 high-quality apprenticeship places. We are also taking action to set colleges and training organisations free from excessive bureaucracy and direct state control, to give them the freedom to respond better to local needs and to make sure employers and individuals have the information they need to make the best choices about investing in training.
	Coventry and the West Midlands will gain from the refocusing of funding towards higher-quality training with clearer benefits and from the improved responsiveness of local training providers.

TREASURY

Black Economy

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs plans to extend its programme of investigative work in relation to the hidden economy.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is committed to cracking down on those who seek to evade tax, including those who operate in the hidden economy. Through development of its data-matching techniques, the Department continues to improve its ability to identify and tackle individuals operating in the hidden economy.

Capital Gains Tax

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the threshold of the tax-free allowance for capital gains tax.

David Gauke: holding answer 22 June 2010
	No assessment has been made of the impact of the annual exempt amount (AEA) for capital gains tax on the economy.
	The AEA will continue to rise in line with inflation and will remain at £10,100 for 2010-11.
	The estimated cost, which excludes any behavioural response, of the AEA for 2008-09 and 2009-10 is published at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-5.pdf.
	This table is routinely updated following the publication of the Budget.

Child Benefit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has made an estimate of the likely level of uptake of child benefit if eligibility for it were to be means-tested;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of administering child benefit if eligibility for it were to be means-tested.

Justine Greening: The requested information is not available.

Child Trust Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 188W, on the Child Trust Fund, whether parents and guardians will be able to take control of stakeholder Child Trust Fund accounts previously established by HM Revenue and Customs for a child in receipt of a voucher under the scheme after January 2011.

Mark Hoban: On 24 May 2010 the Government announced that they intend to reduce and then stop all government contributions to Child Trust Funds from January 2011. Child Trust Fund accounts will continue to operate as they do now, whenever they happen to have been opened.
	As with all accounts, stakeholder accounts opened by HM Revenue and Customs on behalf of children, now and in the future, are under the full control of the parents or legal guardian of the child. Parents or guardians can transfer the account to a different financial provider or type of account, but the money remains the child's and they cannot withdraw it until they turn 18.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The Treasury policy on the use of Government cars is in accordance with the recently announced ministerial code.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 291W.

Devolution: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the devolution of tax-varying powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 21 June 2010
	The Chancellor announced at his Budget statement that the Government will publish a paper on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive, including examining potential mechanisms for changing the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland.

Double Taxation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his policy is on continuing the provisions of Section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 in respect of UK residents and foreign partnerships; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to introduce proposals to repeal legislative provisions that ensure UK residents retrospectively pay UK tax on their profits from foreign partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: UK residents are taxable on their worldwide income wherever it arises-including situations where it arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond doubt. The Government are, in general, opposed to retrospective legislation. However, the retrospective element of section 58 is currently the subject of judicial review by the courts and the Government's view is that it is best dealt with there.

Financial Services: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which body will have responsibility for the  (a) supervision and  (b) regulation of UK financial markets in the period to 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Services Authority will continue to regulate and supervise financial services and markets until the legislation implementing the Government's proposals for reform has been enacted and commenced.

Financial Services: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct the Banking Commission to consider the future contribution of the financial services industry to increasing the positive effects of economic activity on the natural environment; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The remit of the commission is outlined in the commission's terms of reference, which are a matter of public record and can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/banking_commission_terms_of_reference.pdf
	As an independent commission, it will be at the commissioners' discretion to consider representations or evidence received on any relevant topic.

Financial Services: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism will be used to appoint the members of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England.

Mark Hoban: The Government will set out more detail on the Financial Policy Committee, including membership and appointments, in a consultation document to be published before the summer recess.

Financial Services: Regulation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what time period will elapse between meetings of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England and publication of its minutes.

Mark Hoban: The Government will set out more detail on the Financial Policy Committee, including issues relating to transparency and accountability, in a consultation document to be published before the summer recess.

Personal Savings: Low Incomes

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average savings ratio of households on  (a) low and  (b) middle incomes.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the average savings ratio of households on (a) low and (b) middle incomes. (3231)
	ONS compiles and publishes an estimate of the saving ratio for the whole of the household and Non Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH) sector. This is referred to as the household saving ratio for short and is published quarterly in United Kingdom Economic Accounts.
	ONS does not compile estimates of the household saving ratio by level of income.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the Barnett formula consequentials for Wales of the measures announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his statement on public spending on 17 June 2010; and whether these consequentials were taken into account in  (a) the consequential changes announced on 24 May 2010 and  (b) subsequent announcements.

Danny Alexander: There were no further Barnett consequentials for Wales for the measures announced on 17 June 2010.

Public Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what mechanism he will consult the public on options for public expenditure cuts; and what information he plans to provide in order to inform that consultation.

Danny Alexander: The Government published their proposals for the spending review on 9 June: The Spending Review Framework (CM 7872).
	The Government are determined that this spending review process will be open, responsible and fair and conducted in a way that protects the poorest and most vulnerable in our society; in a way that unites our country rather than divides it. The Budget announced that an engagement programme will launch on 24 June 2010, giving public sector workers and members of the publican opportunity to feed in their ideas for how to reduce spending while protecting the quality of public services.

Tax Allowances: Christmas

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister of 2 June 2010,  Official Report, column 428, what the evidential basis is for the statement that Christmas parties are supported in the tax system.

David Gauke: Section 264 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 exempts from tax the provision by an employer of an annual party or similar annual function open to all employees, such as a Christmas party, subject to an aggregate limit of £150 per person.

Tax Allowances: Married People

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether implementation of the Government's proposals to introduce transferable tax allowances for married couples will take place at a net cost to the Exchequer.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) on 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 189W.

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward plans for a comprehensive anti-tax avoidance and evasion strategy as a part of his Department's fiscal policy.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 275W.

Tax Evasion: Publicity

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on advertising for the purposes of preventing tax evasion in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs spent £633,284 (excluding VAT) on advertising for the purposes of preventing tax evasion last year. There was no expenditure in the previous two years.

Unpaid Taxes

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the rate of recovery of tax debt.

David Gauke: The Chancellor announced in the Budget that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will contract debt collection agencies to recover additional monies from existing tax debts. HMRC estimate that this will lead to an additional £140 million revenue accruing to the Exchequer.
	HMRC's 2010-11 Business Plan provides further information on the Department's plans to improve its tax debt recovery operations:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/bus-plan-2010-11.pdf

VAT

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many  (a) individuals,  (b) retired pensioners and  (c) people over the age of 16 in full-time further and higher education who did not pay national insurance contributions in 2009-10 paid value added tax on household purchases.

David Gauke: holding answer 21 June 2010
	The precise information requested is not available.
	The Office for National Statistics 2007 mid-year population estimate for the UK indicates there were 38 million individuals aged 16 or over and below state pension age and so liable for national insurance contributions (NICs) if they have earnings or profits from self-employment above the relevant thresholds.
	Individuals overstate pension age, of which there were nearly 12 million in 2007, are not liable to pay NICs.
	An estimated 29 million individuals paid NICs in 2007-08, the latest year for which information is available. Further details can be found using the Department for Work and Pension's tabulation tool based on a 1% sample of national insurance records:
	http://83.244.183.180/NIRS/live/tabtool.html
	Estimates for those aged 16 and over in full-time further or higher education paying and not paying NICs are not available.
	All individuals pay VAT on any purchases of goods and services that are subject to VAT.

Welfare Tax Credits: Standards

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to  (a) process an application for and  (b) make an award of tax credits.

David Gauke: In 2009-10, HM Revenue and Customs aimed to pay 60% of tax credits new claims in 15 days. The provisional outturn for 2009-10 is 58%. The disaggregated information requested is not available.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Leader of the House which Ministers in his Office have been issued with  (a) a BlackBerry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Cabinet Office.

George Young: One Minister in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons has been issued with a Blackberry which was previously used by Cabinet Office staff.

CABINET OFFICE

Breast Cancer

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many women in  (a) the Metropolitan borough of Wigan,  (b) the North West and  (c) England (i) were diagnosed with and (ii) died from breast cancer in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many women in (a) the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, (b) the North West and (c) England (i) were diagnosed with and (ii) died from breast cancer in each of the last five years.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer (incidence) are for the year 2007, while the latest provisional figures for deaths are for the year 2009. Please note that the number of breast cancer cases may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	Table 1 provides the number of (i) newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in women from 2003 to 2007 and Table 2 provides the number of (ii) deaths from breast cancer in women from 2005 to 2009, for (a) Wigan metropolitan district, (b) North West government office region and (c) England.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer( 1) , females( 2) , Wigan metropolitan district, North West Government office region and England( 3) , 2003 to 2007( 4) 
			  Area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Wigan 209 213 210 227 204 
			 North West 5,002 5,186 5,311 5,383 5,269 
			 England 37,584 37,855 38,733 38,550 38,048 
			 (1) Breast cancer is coded as C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Around 99% of breast cancer cases are in women. (3) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (4) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death( 1) , females, Wigan metropolitan district, North West government office region, and England( 2, 3) , 2005 to 2009( 4, 5) 
			  Area  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Wigan 51 62 49 60 57 
			 North West 1,385 1,394 1,344 1,313 1,295 
			 England 10,297 10,243 9,986 10,065 9,749 
			 (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3) Figures do not include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (5) Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the  (a) Minister without Portfolio, the right hon. Baroness Warsi and  (b) the Leader of the House of Lords, the right hon. Lord Strathclyde have been issued with (i) a BlackBerry, (ii) an iPhone, (iii) another make of mobile telephone and (iv) a personal digital assistant supplied by a Government Department.

Francis Maude: No BlackBerrys, iPhones, other mobile phones or personal digital assistants have been issued to the Minister without Portfolio, the right hon. Baroness Warsi and the Leader of the House of Lords, the right hon. Lord Strathclyde in the Cabinet Office.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Government  (a) Whips and  (b) Assistant Whips in both Houses have been issued with (i) a BlackBerry, (ii) an iPhone, (iii) another make of mobile telephone and (iv) a personal digital assistant.

Francis Maude: No BlackBerrys, iPhones, other mobile phones or personal digital assistants have been issued to any Government Whips or Assistant Whips in the Cabinet Office.

Electoral Register

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of  (a) the number of people registered to vote and  (b) the number of people aged 18 years and over resident in each constituency in England and Wales.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent estimate is of (a) the number of people registered to vote and (b) the number of people aged 18 years and over resident in each constituency in England and Wales (3148).
	Table 1 shows the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections for each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, as at 1st December 2009. Table 2 shows the mid-year estimate of the population aged 18 and over by parliamentary constituency, in England and Wales for 2007. A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	These are the latest figures that are available. There have been a number of boundary changes to parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales between 2007 and 2009.

Electoral Register

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the number of people aged 18 years and over resident in each constituency in England and Wales who are registered to vote.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent estimate is of the number of people aged 18 years and over resident in each constituency in England and Wales who are registered to vote (3149).
	The table shows the number of people registered to vote aged 18 and over in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales as at l December 2009. Figures provided exclude people who are registered as overseas electors and who are not resident in England and Wales. A Copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	These estimates are the best approximation to the figures you request however, the registered electorate may include some voters who are not currently resident. This is because people who have more than one address may register in more than one place (e.g. students may register at parental and term-time addresses) and electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or died. This can affect the comparability of figures across parliamentary constituencies.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which non-departmental public bodies his Department is assessing on their suitability of purpose and cost-effectiveness.

Francis Maude: All of them.

HEALTH

Departmental Mobile Phones

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 262W, on departmental mobile telephones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier was in respect of the BlackBerry devices issued to each Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

Anne Milton: Each Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has been issued with a BlackBerry device at an individual cost of £196.50 plus VAT, on the Vodafone "Teamwork+BlackBerry" tariff, supplied by the Department's Information Services Division.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  who has attended each meeting at EU level to discuss European legislation on food supplements in the last 24 months; what reports he has received on each such meeting; what decisions he has taken as a result of those reports; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what criteria he used in deciding which officials in his Department would undertake negotiations in the EU on maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; what technical expertise is available to those officials; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what information he has on the likely timetable for the publication by the European Commission of proposals for maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; and what assessment he has made of the likely economic effects of implementation of those levels on businesses in  (a) Harlow,  (b) Essex and  (c) the UK.

Anne Milton: Food Standards Agency (FSA) officials have attended each meeting at the EU level to discuss European legislation on food supplements in the last 24 months. There have been no European Union level meetings on this subject since this Government was formed and therefore no reports have been received.
	A team of FSA officials are responsible for this issue. While officials at grade 7 and above in seniority will normally represent the United Kingdom in EU level discussions, the FSA deploys staff resources flexibly, using to the best effect the available skills and expertise, to ensure that the UK is best able to deliver its objectives. The FSA team includes officials with relevant scientific qualifications and expertise. Additional technical expertise is available from independent scientific experts and food supplement industry experts as necessary.
	The European Commission has indicated that discussions will continue at working group level later in 2010. A date has not been set for publication by the European Commission of proposals for maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the food supplements directive. An impact assessment is being prepared according to cabinet office guidelines, which will include economic impact to UK businesses; the assessment will be completed when the maximum European Commission's proposal on permitted levels for vitamins and minerals is published. The impact assessment is made at the UK level and does not consider individual counties or towns separately. The impact assessment will form part of a public consultation on the proposals.

Drugs and Alcoholic Drinks: Rehabilitation

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve health outcomes for those treated for alcohol or drug abuse.

Anne Milton: Alcohol and drugs are major public health issues. In England, primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for arranging to meet the local needs of those with alcohol and/or drug related problems and ensuring that services commissioned are of the required quality.
	We are determined to help the national health service ensure effective commissioning of services, focusing on good outcomes from treatment, including that for alcohol and drug problems. We will set out our plans in more detail in the coming months.
	The Department's Alcohol Improvement Programme supports the NHS to help them commission improvements in alcohol prevention and treatment, through:
	guidance on effective commissioning and treatment;
	data from the National Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System and local alcohol profiles for England to help PCTs understand local need in relation to alcohol harm; and
	a National Support Team for Alcohol, providing support in areas with the highest rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
	Together the Department, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) have produced a comprehensive suite of evidence-based guidance on drug treatment for those commissioning and delivering services.
	To improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England, the NTA provides drug service providers with practical support and encouragement, while data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System allows PCTs to more accurately plan and target resources for their drug misuse services.
	We will be conducting a full review of sentencing policy to ensure that it is effective and that sentencing for drug use helps offenders to come off drugs. We will also explore alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for drugs offenders.

Hospitals

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the optimum population size which general hospitals should serve.

Anne Milton: Each community in England is unique in terms of its population, their distribution and health needs. Therefore, national health service organisations design their facilities to best respond to these local health needs to deliver high quality care. Centrally linking population size and hospital types would therefore fail to provide the service the public deserve.

Hospitals

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on  (a) specialist centres of excellence and  (b) general district hospitals.

Andrew Lansley: We believe that patients should have access to the right treatment, at the right place and at the right time. We require that quality health care services reflect considerations of safety, quality standards and access. We believe services should be locally accessible wherever possible; and centralised where necessary. Judgments about this balance must, as I made clear in my statement of 21 May, take full account of clinical evidence, public engagement, general practitioner commissioning and referral intentions, and the current and prospective pattern of patient choice.

Hospitals: Buildings

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the clinical outcomes for patients in hospital buildings that are older that 10 years.

Anne Milton: The national health service delivers patient services in buildings from a wide range of ages. The NHS is expected to ensure that its buildings are functionally suitable to deliver safe and high quality care, regardless of when they were built.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated  (a) reactive and  (b) planned repairs and maintenance cost for the (i) University Hospital of Hartlepool and (ii) University Hospital of North Tees in each of the next three years.

Andrew Lansley: The information is not available in the format requested. The information that is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Backlog maintenance data for the university hospital of Hartlepool and the university hospital of North Tees for 2008-09 
			   University hospital of Hartlepool  University hospital of North Tees 
			 High risk (£000) 250 250 
			 Significant risk (£000) 430 500 
			 Medium risk (£000) 3,000 5,000 
			 Low risk (£000) 4,000 5,770 
			 Total (£000) 7,680 11,520 
			
			 Total backlog maintenance/occupied floor area (£) 178.99/m(2) 157.04/m(2) 
			  Notes: 1. National health service organisations are locally responsible for the provision and maintenance of their facilities. This includes planning and investment to reduce backlog maintenance. This data has not been amended centrally and its accuracy is the responsibility of the contributing NHS organisations. 2. Backlog maintenance is the capital investment required to bring a trust's estate up to an appropriate standard. The latest available data is for 2008-09, which has been provided in the table. 3. High risk backlog maintenance is defined as urgent priority work needed to prevent catastrophic failure, major disruption to clinical services or deficiencies resulting in serious injury or prosecution. 4. Significant risk backlog maintenance is defined as work that requires short-term expenditure but can be effectively managed to avoid risk to health care services or concern to enforcement bodies. 5. Moderate risk backlog maintenance is defined as work that requires close control and monitoring but can be managed in the medium term. 6. Low risk backlog maintenance is defined as work that can be addressed through agreed maintenance programmes or through strategic plans.  Source: Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) 2008-09

Patients: Per Capita Costs

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of admission to hospital per patient was at  (a) the University Hospital of Hartlepool,  (b) the University Hospital of North Tees,  (c) James Cook University Hospital and  (d) all hospitals in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Lansley: The information is not collected centrally. However, it is possible to estimate the average cost of each episode of admitted patient care under a consultant using information collected in national health service reference costs, most recently covering the financial year 2008-09. Figures are provided in the table for these NHS organisations and for England. Data for all NHS organisations in England is available from the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_111591.
	
		
			  Table: Average cost of admitted patient care under the care of a consultant in 2008-09 
			   Average unit cost per finished consultant episode (FCE) 
			 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust £1,200 
			 South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust £1,400 
			 Average for all hospitals in England £1,300 
			  Notes: 1. The figures in the table are derived from organisation level reference costs and from schedule 1 (NHS trusts) of the 2008-09 national schedules of reference costs. 2. The figures were calculated by summing the product of activity (FCEs and excess bed days) and average unit costs, and dividing by total FCEs, for all health care resource groups in the day case, elective inpatient and non-elective inpatient schedules. 3. FCEs are the unity of activity for reference costs and cover a patient's period in the care of a consultant in hospital. There may be more than one FCE during a patient's spell of care between admission and discharge. 4. The figures are rounded to the nearest £100. 5. University Hospital of Hartlepool and University Hospital of North Tees are part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. 6. James Cook University Hospital is part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Civil Partnerships

William Bain: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with leaders of religious groups on the Government's policy on allowing same-sex couples to register relationships in a religious setting.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government published "Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality" on 16 June 2010. This document sets out a programme of work to tackle discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people.
	It confirms our support for civil partnerships and sets out our commitment to
	"talk to those with a key interest in this issue about what the next stage should be for civil partnerships, including how some religious organisations can allow same-sex couples the opportunity to register their relations in a religious setting is they wish to do so".
	We will be talking with leaders of religious groups as part of this process.

EDUCATION

Academies: GCSE

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of year 11 pupils at  (a) academy schools and  (b) each academy school obtained at least five GCSEs at A*-C grade, excluding equivalents in 2008-09 in (i) any subject and (ii) including English and mathematics.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is presented in the following table:
	
		
			  GCSE results of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in academies in 2009 
			   Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C including English and Maths 
			 St Pauls Academy 66 56 
			 Mossbourne Community Academy 83 82 
			 Burlington Danes Academy 52 49 
			 City of London Academy - Islington 42 34 
			 Lambeth Academy 42 35 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College 90 86 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy 28 25 
			 St Matthew Academy 21 19 
			 City of London Academy (Southwark) 47 38 
			 Harris Academy at Peckham 27 24 
			 Harris Academy Bermondsey 47 44 
			 Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich 40 35 
			 Walworth Academy 30 30 
			 St Michael and All Angels C of E Academy 23 22 
			 Bacon's College 70 53 
			 Globe Academy 34 31 
			 Ashcroft Technology Academy 66 63 
			 Paddington Academy 39 32 
			 Westminster Academy 31 29 
			 Pimlico Academy 51 40 
			 London Academy 42 33 
			 The Business Academy Bexley 32 30 
			 Harris Academy Falconwood 30 28 
			 Capital City Academy 34 29 
			 Harris Academy South Norwood 23 23 
			 Harris City Academy Crystal Palace 90 81 
			 Oasis Academy-Coulsdon 49 42 
			 West London Academy 33 28 
			 Greig City Academy 39 36 
			 Stockley Academy 19 18 
			 The Harefield Academy 38 35 
			 Harris Academy Merton 58 47 
			 St Marks Church of England Academy 34 27 
			 Walthamstow Academy 33 27 
			 Grace Academy Coventry 32 27 
			 Shireland Collegiate Academy 27 26 
			 George Salter Collegiate Academy 25 24 
			 Q3 Academy 50 43 
			 RSA Academy 17 16 
			 Grace Academy Solihull 31 19 
			 CTC Kingshurst Academy 43 41 
			 Walsall Academy 61 56 
			 Sheffield Community Academy 22 21 
			 The Academy of St Francis of Assisi 22 17 
			 North Liverpool Academy 30 26 
			 The Belvedere Academy 99 96 
			 Essa Academy 39 35 
			 Manchester Academy 33 32 
			 William Hulme's Grammar School 88 85 
			 St Anne's Academy 31 30 
			 Salford City Academy 38 32 
			 Oasis Academy MediaCityUK 37 31 
			 Stockport Academy 25 20 
			 New Charter Academy 32 28 
			 The Barnsley Academy 7 7 
			 Trinity Academy 50 46 
			 Sheffield Park Academy 2 2 
			 Sheffield Springs Academy 13 13 
			 Dixons City Academy 87 86 
			 Bradford Academy 22 19 
			 David Young Community Academy 24 22 
			 Excelsior Academy 12 10 
			 Academy 360 16 15 
			 The City Academy Bristol 37 32 
			 Bristol Brunei Academy 26 22 
			 Bristol Cathedral Choir School 83 78 
			 Colston's Girls' School 100 85 
			 Merchants' Academy 15 13 
			 Oasis Academy Bristol 25 18 
			 Oasis Academy Brightstowe 26 20 
			 John Cabot Academy 71 62 
			 Unity City Academy 14 14 
			 The King's Academy 44 37 
			 Macmillan Academy 74 65 
			 Archbishop Sentamu Academy 14 14 
			 Oasis Academy Immingham 15 14 
			 Oasis Academy Wintringham 21 21 
			 Havelock Academy 27 26 
			 St Lawrence Academy 34 33 
			 Barnfield West Academy Luton 29 29 
			 Barnfield South Academy Luton 34 31 
			 Landau Forte College 66 52 
			 St Aidans Church of England Academy 40 37 
			 Oasis Academy Lord's Hill 21 19 
			 Oasis Academy Mayfield 36 32 
			 Swindon Academy 32 26 
			 John Madejski Academy 6 6 
			 The Langley Academy 30 28 
			 Thomas Deacon Academy 40 34 
			 New Rickstones Academy 36 32 
			 Greensward Academy 49 45 
			 Maltings Academy 41 35 
			 The Gateway Academy 28 25 
			 Hereford Academy 29 23 
			 Steiner Academy Hereford 0 0 
			 The Marlowe Academy 5 5 
			 Folkestone Academy 23 22 
			 Marsh Academy 22 22 
			 The Leigh Technology Academy 26 26 
			 Spires Academy 21 21 
			 New Line Learning Academy 4 4 
			 Cornwallis Academy 38 37 
			 Longfield Academy 34 29 
			 Accrington Academy 34 28 
			 Darwen Aldridge Community Academy 27 22 
			 Samworth Church Academy 26 21 
			 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham 22 22 
			 Madeley Academy 45 43 
			 Abraham Darby 33 30 
			 Richard Rose Morton Academy 26 24 
			 Richard Rose Central Academy 30 25 
			 West Lakes Academy 32 25 
			 Priory Witham Academy 29 26 
			 Priory City of Lincoln Academy 26 23 
			 Priory Academy LSST 96 96 
			 Trent Valley Academy 25 22 
			 The Open Academy 28 27 
			 Northampton Academy 37 35 
			 Corby Business Academy 17 16 
			 Brooke Weston Academy 90 80 
			 North Oxfordshire Academy 20 19 
			 Oxford Academy 24 18 
			 Midhurst Rother College 51 42 
			 All Academy schools 37 33 
			  Note: Only A*-C passes in full, short course and double award GCSEs are included.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects his review of the Building Schools for the Future programme to conclude; and if he will make a statement.

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether the Wrockwardine Wood Secondary School in Telford is included in the review of the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(2)  whether the Phoenix Secondary School in Telford is included in the review of the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(3)  whether the Lord Silkin Secondary School in Telford is included in the review of the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(4)  whether the Sutherland Secondary School in Telford is included in the review of the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(5)  when the review of the Building Schools for the Future programme will be concluded.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that we can build schools more effectively and more cost-efficiently in the future.

Children: Epilepsy

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of children with epilepsy in mainstream schools.

Sarah Teather: The information on the number of pupils with epilepsy is not collected by the Department.
	The information available on type of special educational need is published in the Statistical First Release "Schools, Pupils and their characteristics, January 2010 (Provisional)" and can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/index.shtml

Children: Protection

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were on the Child Protection Register in each local authority in England in each year since 2006.

Tim Loughton: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Table 9D: Children( 1)  who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan-Years end ing 31 March 2006-09 Coverage:  England 
			  Number 
			  Local authority  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 England 26,400 27,900 29,200 34,100 
			  
			  North East 1,615 1,785 1,980 2,265 
			 Darlington 65 50 50 65 
			 Durham 180 225 215 290 
			 Gateshead 145 145 155 135 
			 Hartlepool 75 90 55 80 
			 Middlesbrough 140 125 210 260 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 230 350 320 315 
			 North Tyneside 95 115 105 125 
			 Northumberland 160 175 255 255 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 70 60 120 160 
			 South Tyneside 85 110 135 110 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 105 130 160 210 
			 Sunderland 270 210 200 265 
			  
			  North West 3,375 3,565 3,980 5,235 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 70 65 45 135 
			 Blackpool 145 110 165 155 
			 Bolton 130 145 190 250 
			 Bury 110 100 145 145 
			 Cheshire 175 155 175 260 
			 Cumbria 120 160 225 270 
			 Halton 85 80 65 75 
			 Knowsley 110 150 110 135 
			 Lancashire 515 565 510 660 
			 Liverpool 225 320 355 500 
			 Manchester 270 300 515 540 
			 Oldham 90 130 170 235 
			 Rochdale 70 105 75 140 
			 Salford 130 75 135 225 
			 Sefton 145 195 235 310 
			 St Helens 150 105 90 120 
			 Stockport 130 130 140 170 
			 Tameside 95 85 105 165 
			 Trafford 160 155 200 215 
			 Warrington 100 95 100 95 
			 Wigan 90 95 110 215 
			 Wirral 250 245 115 225 
			  
			  Yorks and the Humber 2,830 2,730 2,835 3,240 
			 Barnsley 195 140 150 170 
			 Bradford 275 205 255 305 
			 Calderdale 90 115 135 160 
			 Doncaster 250 235 325 310 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 135 115 110 110 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 260 155 125 145 
			 Kirklees 205 200 215 230 
			 Leeds 305 400 405 395 
			 North East Lincolnshire 70 80 90 70 
			 North Lincolnshire 85 80 90 85 
			 North Yorkshire 315 240 130 230 
			 Rotherham 105 145 235 285 
			 Sheffield 350 405 285 350 
			 Wakefield 145 160 210 305 
			 York 45 60 80 100 
			  
			  East Midlands 2,275 2,525 2,410 2,525 
			 Derby 260 300 170 135 
			 Derbyshire 290 320 375 490 
			 Leicester 290 395 350 345 
			 Leicestershire 160 150 245 255 
			 Lincolnshire 365 345 260 205 
			 Northamptonshire 185 185 155 225 
			 Nottingham 270 330 430 410 
			 Nottinghamshire 450 485 420 445 
			 Rutland 10 15 (2)- 10 
			  
			  West midlands 3,305 3,480 3,475 4,245 
			 Birmingham 1,055 1,255 1,020 1,375 
			 Coventry 210 185 180 300 
			 Dudley 115 135 135 170 
			 Herefordshire 65 55 70 105 
			 Sandwell 175 120 190 210 
			 Shropshire 160 160 135 175 
			 Solihull 130 80 55 90 
			 Staffordshire 385 340 385 440 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 115 150 240 185 
			 Telford and Wrekin 105 135 160 155 
			 Walsall 120 165 175 195 
			 Warwickshire 295 300 335 355 
			 Wolverhampton 190 125 120 160 
			 Worcestershire 195 285 270 330 
			  
			  East of England 2,600 2,620 2,745 3,025 
			 Bedfordshire 140 110 140 200 
			 Cambridgeshire 250 290 360 360 
			 Essex 500 625 545 645 
			 Hertfordshire 420 385 445 585 
			 Luton 140 120 100 145 
			 Norfolk 410 320 295 310 
			 Peterborough 175 175 85 100 
			 Southend-on-Sea 100 120 165 155 
			 Suffolk 405 410 465 390 
			 Thurrock 60 70 150 130 
			  
			 London 4,745 4,955 5,210 5,795 
			  Inner London 
			 Camden 215 195 195 270 
			 City of London 0 (2)- (2)- (2)- 
			 Hackney 165 185 220 220 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 75 140 150 175 
			 Haringey 200 155 230 180 
			 Islington 135 110 110 140 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 60 60 55 75 
			 Lambeth 215 240 255 210 
			 Lewisham 225 195 175 200 
			 Newham 430 475 385 300 
			 Southwark 240 230 260 315 
			 Tower Hamlets 125 190 235 270 
			 Wandsworth 125 135 175 180 
			 Westminster 110 115 85 145 
			  
			  Outer London 
			 Barking and Dagenham 130 145 165 165 
			 Barnet 115 130 155 150 
			 Bexley 80 60 60 85 
			 Brent 130 125 170 175 
			 Bromley 155 140 140 165 
			 Croydon 215 235 250 270 
			 Ealing 240 320 365 330 
			 Enfield 180 155 130 205 
			 Greenwich 165 175 190 275 
			 Harrow 120 135 110 160 
			 Havering 135 75 70 95 
			 Hillingdon 85 125 150 175 
			 Hounslow 160 180 140 185 
			 Kingston upon Thames 40 50 60 80 
			 Merton 85 120 130 135 
			 Redbridge 100 115 135 150 
			 Richmond upon Thames 50 50 35 35 
			 Sutton 65 85 105 150 
			 Waltham Forest 175 105 95 135 
			 (1) Includes unborn children. (2) A small number which has been suppressed to preserve confidentiality  Source:  CPR3

Children's Centres: Doncaster

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children's centres there were in  (a) Don Valley and  (b) the Doncaster borough council area in each year since (i) 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Sarah Teather: The following table gives details of how many designated (open) Sure Start Children's Centres there were in  (a) Don Valley constituency and  (b) the Doncaster borough council area in each year since 2003. There were no children's centres designated prior to 2003; the latest data on the total number of children's centres designated in Doncaster was available at 30 April 2010-shown as the 2010 figures in the table.
	
		
			   Total children's centres in Don Valley constituency  Total children's centres in Doncaster borough council 
			 2003 1 1 
			 2004 1 1 
			 2005 3 9 
			 2006 4 14 
			 2007 4 14 
			 2008 7 22 
			 2009 (1)6 (1)21 
			 2010 6 21 
			 (1 )In 2009 Conisbrough children's centre merged with Denaby Main children's centre, becoming a satellite to Denaby Main children's centre rather than a centre in its own right. This resulted in a reduction to the overall total of children's centres in Doncaster.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people in  (a) Dudley,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England applied for educational maintenance allowance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Dudley North with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in  Hansard and the Library.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students in Warrington North constituency are in receipt of education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people resident in Wigan constituency receive education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in  Hansard and the Libraries.

Free School Meals

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to announce the results of the universal free school meals pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The pilots in Newham, Durham and Wolverhampton, started in the autumn term 2009 and will run until July 2011. We have commissioned NatCen (National Centre for Social Research) to undertake the evaluation of the pilots. We will closely evaluate them for evidence on how each option affects take up of school lunches; impacts on children's outcomes including diet at school and at home, health, behaviour and attainment; and value for money. We expect the full evaluation results to be available early in 2012. Some results, such as the effect on school lunch take-up, will be available earlier.
	As the Secretary of State made clear in his letter of 7 June to the right hon. Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) which has been placed in the Library, the Government will not be funding the additional free school meals pilots in Islington, Bradford, Nottingham, Cumbria and Medway that were due to start in September 2010.

Free Schools

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding he plans to allocate to the implementation of free school polices in  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12 and  (c) 2013-14.

Nick Gibb: Full plans for all education funding depend on the spending review which has yet to be undertaken. Those plans will include provision for the funding of free schools. Details will be published as part of the spending settlement latter this year.

GCSE: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils obtained five A* to C grades at GCSE in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 23 June 2010
	The information required is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils obtained five A* to C grades at GCSE in the West Midlands and Coventry 
			   West Midlands  Coventry 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 1997 24,733 40.2 1,262 36.9 
			 1998 25,138 41.3 1,286 37.1 
			 1999 26,972 43.5 1,318 39.1 
			 2000 27,441 44.8 1,412 40.8 
			 2001 29,262 45.8 1,523 42.6 
			 2002 30,742 48.1 1,561 43.2 
			 2003 32,797 50.2 1,668 45.8 
			 2004 33,967 50.9 1,666 45.5 
			 2005 36,001 54.3 1,720 46.4 
			 2006 38,232 56.4 1,796 47.9 
			 2007 40,734 59.3 1,998 52.6 
			 2008 43,263 64.1 2,210 60.7 
			 2009 45,455 70.1 2,474 70.0 
			  Notes: 1. Data for the period 1997 to 2004 relates to 15-year-olds. 2. Data for the period 2005 to 2009 relates to pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.  Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables.

National Curriculum Tests

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the timetable for Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests for academic year 2010-11 will be published; and on what dates he expects those tests to take place.

Nick Gibb: We are currently considering the arrangements for the Key Stage 2 tests in 2011 and will confirm the details shortly.

Schools: Discipline

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the implications for young carers of a policy in schools of no-notice detentions;
	(2)  what assessment was made of the implications for child protection of allowing head teachers to use no-notice detentions.

Nick Gibb: The Government trust head teachers to make reasonable arrangements for detentions, taking into account any implications for child protection and for young carers.

Schools: Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of paying to each eligible  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school under his proposals the payment presently awarded to each school which achieves academy school status.

Nick Gibb: Outstanding schools making a successful application for conversion to academy status will be entitled to a grant of around £25,000 as a contribution to implementation and development costs. The total cost will depend on the number of successful applications.

Schools: Standards

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will ensure that any reduction in the level of regulation affecting schools does not put children at risk.

Nick Gibb: I can confirm that the Government's programme of providing greater freedom for schools will not put pupils at risk. Academies already benefit from greater freedoms to help them innovate and raise standards. These include freedom from local authority control; the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff; freedom from following the national curriculum; and the ability to change the length of terms and school days. Staff in all schools, including academies, have a general duty of care for those in their charge.

Specialised Diplomas

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West and  (c) England have enrolled on a 14 to 19 diploma course in each subject in each year since their introduction.

Nick Gibb: The 14 to 19 Diploma was introduced in the academic year 2008/09. Information on the number of students participating in Diploma learning in 2008/09 was published via the DFE website on 11 November 2009 at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/t000888/index.shtml
	Final figures for 2009/10 are likely to be available from the end of November 2010; however, indicative figures were released on the DFE website on 18 December 2009 at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?go=site.home&sid=57&pid=500&lid= 593&l4id=287&ptype=Single&ctype=Text
	The number of students who participated in a course of study towards a Diploma for all or part of the academic year 2008/09 in  (a) the Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West and  (c) England up to and including 31 August 2009 by subject, as identified by the number of Diploma students registered on the QCDA Diploma Aggregation Service (DAS) data is:
	
		
			  2008/09  Construction and the Built Environment  Creative and Media  Engineering  Information Technology  Society, Health and Development  Total 
			 Wigan Nil 
			 North West 225 524 423 177 303 1,652 
			 England 1,529 3,522 2,629 1,920 1,726 11,326 
			  Source: Full year 2008/09 DAS participation data matched to the DFE National Pupil Database 
		
	
	The number of students who were on a course of study towards a Diploma as of September 2009 in  (a) the Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West and  (c) England by subject, as indicated by funding returns from local authorities is:
	
		
			  September 2009  Construction and the Built Environment  Creative and Media  Engineering  Information Technology  Society, Health and Development 
			 Wigan 0 39 0 26 0 
			 North West 432 1373 1030 547 957 
			 England 3,291 9,850 6,343 5,189 5,196 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2009  Business Administration and Finance  Environment and Land Based Studies  Hair and Beauty Studies  Hospitality  Manufacturing and Product Design 
			 Wigan 0 9 8 11 0 
			 North West 312 114 279 104 12 
			 England 2,440 643 2,562 783 144 
			  Source: Local authority funding returns for the Diploma Formula Grant submitted to the DFE in November 2009

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department plans to take to implement its responsibilities in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; if he will withdraw the reservation and declaration made by his Department to the Convention; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of disabled children educated a long distance away from their homes.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 15 June 2010
	 The UK Government have ratified the convention and we will meet our commitments under it. The previous Government took a reservation and interpretive declaration to article 24, on education, and we currently have no plans to change this.
	Section 9 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 inserted section 22G into the Children Act 1989 to require local authorities to take steps that secure, so far as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation, within the authority's area, which meets the needs of children that the local authority are looking after, and whose circumstances are such that it would be consistent with their welfare for them to be provided with accommodation that is in the authority's area. This will require local authorities to plan strategically to meet the needs of those children. The duty is planned to come into force in April 2011. Statutory guidance was published in March 2010 and can be found at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/safeguardingandsocialcare/childrenincare/careplanning/careplanning/

Youth Opportunities and Youth Capital Funds

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his plans are for the future of the  (a) Youth Opportunity Fund and  (b) Youth Capital Fund.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has not yet made a decision on the future of the Youth Opportunity Fund or Youth Capital Fund. The Government are committed to a full comprehensive spending review in the autumn and Ministers will shortly be considering their spending priorities, which will take into account all areas of spending including that for youth activities and facilities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Aung San Suu Kyi

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi since his appointment.

Jeremy Browne: I raised Burma with ASEAN Ministers at the EU-ASEAN Ministerial on 26 May 2010 at which the Burmese Foreign Minister was present. I made clear that without the release and participation of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's elections will not be free and fair. The subsequent summit statement reflected the EU's concern.
	To mark Aung San Suu Kyi's 65th birthday, my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I called on the military regime to end her detention. Our ambassador in Rangoon repeatedly raises the need for the release of prisoners of conscience, including Aung San Suu Kyi, with ministers in the Burmese military government.
	We will continue to raise the plight of Burma's political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi through the EU, with Burma's neighbours, and we will highlight the issue in the UN Security Council and UN's human rights bodies. We endorse the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's recent observation that the ongoing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is illegal and in violation of international human rights law.

Burma: Elections

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to seek to increase the level of access for people in Burma to free media and information networks before the forthcoming election in that country.

Jeremy Browne: The forthcoming elections are set to be held under deeply oppressive conditions. The Burmese regime limits public access to media information. Election literature is censored and public gatherings, political banners and flags are banned. Most people are unable to access the media to voice political views and those who do so risk draconian measures imposed by the military junta including long prison sentences. Under these conditions, Burma's people will not have reasonable access to free and impartial media.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides funding to the BBC World Service to enable it to run a Burmese service, which provides objective coverage of politics in Burma. BBC World Service reports that it reaches 8.5 million listeners every week inside Burma. Although internet use is limited in Burma, the FCO's digital communications work also plays its part in the flow of information to the country. As elections approach in Burma, the FCO will continue to work closely with the BBC World Service and others to increase access to political information.

Colombia and Peru: EU External Trade

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that the EU free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru be subject to ratification in each member state.

Jeremy Browne: We will determine our policy when we have seen the English text of the final agreement.

Colombia: Political Prisoners

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British diplomats in Bogota have visited political prisoners in Colombian jails.

Jeremy Browne: We have pointed out to the Colombian authorities that those charged with crimes should have their legal rights fully respected, including to a fair trial. We have also raised specific cases of concern of people who have been detained for long periods without trial on the charge of rebellion.

Departmental Official Cars

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 353-4, on departmental official cars, what cars and vehicles have been purchased by the Mission in Italy since 12 May 2010.

Henry Bellingham: No cars or vehicles have been purchased by the Mission in Italy since 12 May 2010.

Iran: Human Rights

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Iran on its record on the protection of human rights in the country.

Henry Bellingham: We believe that the human rights situation in Iran is deplorable, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to take opportunities to raise human rights with the Government of Iran in both a bilateral context, and with EU partners. In Geneva this month, the Human Rights Council adopted Iran's Universal Periodic Review, at which the UK made a series of statements about our concerns and made recommendations to Iran to improve the human rights situation. The UK also signed up to a cross-regional statement by Norway and signed by 55 other states calling on Iran to improve urgently its human rights record.

Iraq: Christianity

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from representatives of the Assyrian community in the UK on the current situation in Iraq.

Henry Bellingham: Foreign and Commonwealth officials in Iraq and London regularly meet representatives of the wider Iraqi Christian community to hear their concerns. On 21 June 2010 our embassy officials in Baghdad met the co-founder of the Assyrian Democratic Movement in the Kurdish region of Iraq.
	We urge the Iraqi Government to protect all Iraqi communities, including Christians, and to deal appropriately with those who are found responsible for any acts of violence and intimidation because of political, ethnic or religious affiliation.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were awarded British Embassy bursaries to study in the UK in each of the last 20 years.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided funds for four award schemes: Chevening scholarships, Chevening fellowships, Marshall scholarships (through the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission) and Commonwealth scholarships (through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan). Since 2008-09 the FCO is not funding any new Commonwealth awards (but it is paying the continuing costs of existing scholars). The number of new awards given on each scheme in each of the last 20 years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Chevening scholarships  Chevening fellowships  Marshall scholarships  Commonwealth scholarships 
			 1990-91 1,489 n/a 30 70 
			 1991-92 1,097 n/a 40 74 
			 1992-93 1,145 n/a 39 91 
			 1993-94 1,362 n/a 36 39 
			 1994-95 1,486 n/a 40 59 
			 1995-96 1,894 n/a 40 96 
			 1996-97 1,918 n/a 40 22 
			 1997-98 1,906 n/a 40 79 
			 1998-99 1,607 n/a 39 74 
			 1999-2000 2,022 n/a 40 35 
			 2000-01 2,285 n/a 38 20 
			 2001-02 2,284 n/a 40 79 
			 2002-03 2,387 n/a 40 72 
			 2003-04 2,401 n/a 40 59 
			 2004-05 2,124 87 44 62 
			 2005-06 1,677 208 43 51 
			 2006-07 1,609 229 43 56 
			 2007-08 1,350 225 44 46 
			 2008-09 978 213 37 53 
			 2009-10 910 173 40 0

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

General Elections: Alternative Vote

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on his proposal to hold a referendum on the alternative voting system for general elections.

Mark Harper: Representations have been received from those with an interest in the electoral system for general elections, including Members of Parliament and the public. The Government have set out their intention to introduce legislation providing for a national referendum on the alternative vote for future elections to the House of Commons, and will announce further details in due course.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will undertake a review of the eligibility of biofuels sourced from palm oil and jatropha oil for renewables obligation certificates to ensure that those biofuels do not receive subsidies under that certification scheme.

Charles Hendry: A review of support levels for renewable electricity generation under the Renewables Obligation is scheduled to start in October 2010, and will include electricity and CHP generation from bioliquids (i.e. biofuels for electricity). I expect to consult publicly on any changes resulting following this review.
	The Government are committed to the sustainability of bio-energy feedstocks. I expect to publish next month proposed sustainability criteria for bioliquids, based on the standards set in the Renewable Energy Directive, to be implemented in the Renewables Obligation.

Carbon Emissions

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the UK resulting from the introduction of a carbon floor price;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to assess the effects on electricity bills of the introduction of a carbon floor price;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the energy  (a) sectors and  (b) companies which will benefit from the introduction of a carbon floor price.

Gregory Barker: The creation of a floor for the carbon price is an important commitment in the Programme of Government. As announced in the Budget, the Government will publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price. Further detail will be published as part of the consultation process.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account.

Gregory Barker: There are no civil servants or special advisers who are entitled to the use of a car with a dedicated driver nor a car from the Government car pool.
	Where groups have such accounts, staff are able to order a taxi through a departmental account in accordance with departmental guidelines.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: The annual Global Threat Reduction Report is translated into Russian each year, at a cost last year of £4,972. The report outlines the progress being made to address the nuclear, biological and chemical legacies in the countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU).
	The following documents were translated into Welsh for DECC in 2009-10, in accordance with the Welsh Language Act (1993):
	
		
			   £ 
			 Nuclear Consultations Annexes: Volumes 2 and 3 7,817.12 
			 Non-Technical Summaries for AoS Reports on EN-1 to EN-5 6,898.87 
			 Nuclear Consultations Annexes: Volumes 2 and 3 5,182.88 
			 EN-1 Draft Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy 4,820.00 
			 Renewables Consultation 4,500.00 
			 EN-3 Draft National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Generation 3,103.87 
			 Household Energy Management 2,380.38 
			 Gas Supply Infrastructure 1,168.00 
			 Habitats Regulation Assessment for EN-1 to EN-5 1,052.87 
			 Consultation on Financing of Nuclear Decommissioning; Consultation on Fixed Unit Price for Waste Disposal 990.00 
			 EN-2 Draft National Policy Statement for Fossil Fuel Electricity Generating Infrastructure 915.37 
			 Electricity Networks 880.37 
			 Executive Summary; Fixed Unit Price 842.12 
			 Nuclear Consultation 730.50 
			 Executive Summary re regulation of gas and electricity networks 420.88 
			 Miners Newsletter 290.87 
			 Extending Carbon Emissions Reduction Target 217.50 
			 Slides for NPS Presentation 150.00 
			 Notices re Maximum Purchase Limit for Fuel 94.00 
			 EN-5 Changes to English 60.00 
			 Amendments to EN-4 60.00 
		
	
	The Health and Safety Executive paid £2,357.50 on DECC's behalf for the translation of the following document into Welsh, in 2009-10:
	Consultation on Restructuring of the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Directorate.
	The following documents were translated into Welsh for Ofgem in 2009-10, in accordance with the Welsh Language Act (1993), at a total cost of £1,449:
	Executive Summary of the Government Response to the Consultation on the Revised Social and Environmental Guidance to Ofgem; The Revised Social and Environmental Guidance to Ofgem; Call for Evidence on the EU Third Package.

Electric Cables: Countryside

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the visual effect of electricity pylons on the open countryside.

Gregory Barker: For new electricity network lines, it is for the regulatory price control and planning processes to determine the appropriate balance between need, cost and visual impact of electricity transmission towers (pylons) in each location.

Fuel Poverty

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to reduce fuel poverty; and how much funding will be provided for WarmSure from 2011 onwards.

Gregory Barker: Funding for the Warm Front scheme is just over £1.1 billion for the current three-year spending period to March 2011. This includes a cash provision of £345 million for 2010-11. Funding for future years will be considered as part of the spending review processes.
	The Green Deal is a key element of our policy to improve household energy efficiency. We want the Green Deal to be relevant to all households. To this end we will ensure that as policy around the Green Deal develops, the needs of those in fuel poverty continue to be recognised.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria have been set for companies investing in new build nuclear power plants.

Charles Hendry: Government's position on new nuclear power is clear. It is for the private sector energy companies to construct, operate and decommission new nuclear power plants, as long as they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects and that they receive no public subsidy. Operator's plans will also have to satisfy the independent safety regulators. The Government will complete the drafting of the Nuclear National Policy Statement and put it before Parliament which if approved will clear the way for planning applications for new nuclear.

Nuclear Power: Finance

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on the  (a) National Nuclear Laboratory,  (b) National Nuclear Academy,  (c) Nuclear Institute and  (d) Office for Civil Nuclear Security in the last 10 years.

Charles Hendry: The information is as follows:
	Spend on:
	 (a) The National Nuclear Laboratory
	The NNL operates on a commercial basis, managed through a GOCO (Government-owned, contractor-operated) arrangement and does not receive funding from the public purse.
	 (b) The Nuclear Academy
	No funding is currently allocated directly from the public purse. However, in 2007-08 the NDA provided £5 million to support the establishment of Energus (formerly referred to as the Nuclear Academy) as a centre of excellence for skills, training and business support.
	 (c) The Nuclear Institute
	The Nuclear Institute receives no public income. The NI income is from individual membership, surplus from events and sales of journals and journal advertising and some occasional donations.
	 (d) Office for Civil Nuclear Security
	The following payments have been made to the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) in recognition of work carried out on behalf of Government which could not be charged to the civil nuclear industry:
	
		
			  April to March each year  £ 
			 2009- 10 280,000 
			 2008- 09 196,000 
			 2007- 08 174,000 
		
	
	Prior to that date, OCNS was part of DTI (as was) and its budget was subsumed within the DTI budget.

Renewable Energy

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to bring forward proposals for a renewable heat incentive.

Charles Hendry: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) on 15 June 2010 , Official Report, columns 367-68W.

Transocean

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the next safety and environmental inspection of the 10 Transocean rigs operating in UK waters will be completed; and whether the inspection reports will be published.

Charles Hendry: holding answer 21 June 2010
	If Transocean rigs are operating in UK waters they will be subject to safety inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and environmental inspection by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Offshore Environmental Inspectorate.
	HSE have informed DECC that their health and safety intervention plan for Transocean proposes at least one annual visit to every Transocean drilling rig working in UK waters. The planned health and safety inspections for 2010-11, subject to schedules and rig moves etc., are:
	April: Galaxy II (well test)-inspection completed
	May: Arctic III (Rotterdam shipyard)-inspection completed
	June: Galaxy II and Sedco 714-inspections completed
	August: Arctic III and Prospect
	September: John Shaw
	October: Paul B Lloyd Jnr
	November: Sedco 704
	January: J W McLean
	February: Sedco 711
	March: Galaxy III
	The findings of any HSE offshore inspection are discussed with the offshore work force safety representatives at the conclusion of the visit, and they subsequently receive copies of any inspection letter.
	DECC have confirmed that they completed environmental inspections of Transocean's Galaxy 4 and Arctic 4 Rigs during October 2009; the Sedco 711 Rig during March 2010 and the Paul Boyd Lloyd Junior during May 2010. DECC's Offshore Inspectorate also plan to visit the above HSE listed Transocean rigs as part of their series of prioritised environmental inspections to fixed installations and drilling rigs, subject to a risk based approach which takes into account operations being conducted. During 2008 DECC's Offshore Inspectorate completed an inspection campaign focused on industry drilling operations, the results of which are published on the DECC website. The inspections ensure that permit holders/operators have been, or are complying with the requirements, restrictions or prohibitions imposed upon them by the relevant statutory provisions.
	Following a DECC environmental offshore inspection an inspection letter raising any issues will be sent to the permit holder/operator. These are currently publically available upon request.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 4 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 603-6, on Afghanistan, over what period the £200 million for training and strengthening the police forces and Government institutions is to be spent; from what budget the funding is drawn; and how much will be spent on each priority for the expenditure.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will allocate the additional £200 million from its own budget to support the Afghan Government over the next four years (2010-11-2013-14).
	DFID is currently reviewing its programme for Afghanistan. The Kabul Conference, scheduled for July, will be a key point for the Afghan Government to set out its development priorities and for the international community to set out their plans to support these.
	We will make specific decisions on spending and focus areas in time for this event.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what proportion of the additional £200 million of aid for Afghanistan announced on 10 June 2010 will be distributed through the United Nations Development Programme;
	(2)  what proportion of the additional £200 million of aid for Afghanistan announced on 10 June 2010 will be allocated to  (a) policing,  (b) improving training, livelihoods and education,  (c) Afghan-led stabilisation, including justice and dispute resolution at a sub-national level,  (d) improving governance and revenue generation and  (e) supporting Civil Service reform;
	(3)  what proportion of the additional £200 million of aid for Afghanistan announced on 10 June 2010 will be distributed  (a) through the government of Afghanistan,  (b) through civil society organisations,  (c) through multilateral organisations and  (d) directly by the Government;
	(4)  whether the £200 million allocation of aid for Afghanistan he announced on 10 June 2010 meets the definition of overseas development assistance used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently reviewing its programme for Afghanistan. The Kabul Conference, scheduled for July, will be a key point for the Afghan Government to set out its development priorities and for the international community to set out their plans to support these.
	We will make specific decisions on spending and focus areas in time for this event.
	All aid spending will continue to meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definition for official development assistance (ODA).

Departmental mobile phones

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 310W, on departmental mobile telephones, what the  (a) purchase cost of the handset,  (b) network provider,  (c) type of tariff and  (d) name of the supplier was in respect of the BlackBerry device issued to (i) the Minister of State and (ii) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

Andrew Mitchell: The cost of the Blackberry handsets issued to the Minister of State and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State were £235 each. The network provider and supplier is Vodafone. The tariff is 'teamwork and blackberry'.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether funding for the Government's contribution to the Fast Start programme announced on 31 May 2010 is to be drawn from existing aid allocations.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK's contribution to Fast Start finance will be drawn from the UK's aid budget. This is a continuation of the previous Government's position, announced in the answer provided on 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 242W by the hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas), on Overseas Aid: Climate Change.

Overseas Aid

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing his Department's proposed aid watchdog;
	(2)  when he expects his Department's proposed aid watchdog to be fully operational.

Andrew Mitchell: We have taken the first steps towards creating a new independent aid watchdog. Details are currently being worked out, and I will keep the House informed of progress.

South Africa: HIV Infection

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle the HIV epidemic in South Africa.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working with a range of South African organisations, including the Government of South Africa's Ministry of Health, to meet the following targets set out in the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS:
	Reduce new HIV infections by 50%;
	Reduce mother to child transmission to 5%; and
	Expand coverage of treatment, care and support to 80%.
	In The Coalition: our programme for government, the Government highlighted it's commitment to restricting the spread of HIV and AIDS. In the coming months DFID will be reviewing its aid programme to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, including the targets for HIV and AIDS.

St Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid has been allocated to St Helena in 2010-11.

Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 June 2010 , Official Report, column 55W, on British Overseas Territories: Overseas Aid.

St Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid he plans to provide to St Helena in each of the five financial years from April 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: In the coming months the Department for International Development (DFID) will be reviewing its aid programme to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and fulfil our obligation to the citizens of UK overseas territories. Allocation of funding to UK overseas territories will be determined as part of the review.

St Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid has been given to St Helena in each year since 2008.

Andrew Mitchell: Details of aid provided to St Helena by the Department for International Development (DFID) are published annually in 'Statistics on International Development', which is available in the Library and on the DFID website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2009/
	DFID provided £17,550,000 and £35,738,000 to St Helena and dependencies (including Tristan da Cunha) in 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. Figures for 2009-10 will be published later this year.

St Helena: Airports

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects to make an announcement in respect of the start date for building an airport on St Helena; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: We are currently considering the question of access to St Helena. I will inform the House of any decision that is made.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will put in place measures to ensure continuous and regular funding for recovery and stabilisation in southern Sudan.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK remains committed to implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan which is the best foundation for stability and recovery between the North and the South of Sudan. The tri-departmental Stabilisation Unit has an Adviser based in the HMG team in Southern Sudan. The UK also contributes to a number of funds operating in Southern Sudan with a stabilisation focus, including the UK-Netherlands Southern Sudan Recovery Fund which is piloting support to state-level stabilisation plans.
	We are currently reviewing all our aid, including aid channelled through multilateral agencies to ensure it is as effective as possible and brings real benefit to the world's poor and conflict-affected populations.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mechanisms to account for expenditure from the funds administered by the UN in Sudan.

Andrew Mitchell: Mechanisms in place include narrative and financial reports as well as audited statements in line with UN procedures. Department for International Development (DFID) staff also conduct regular monitoring of progress and formal annual reviews in line with our own project management procedures.
	We are currently reviewing all our aid, including aid channelled through multilateral agencies to ensure it is as effective as possible and brings real benefit in terms of building peace and delivering assistance to those affected by conflict.